We survived the blizzard!

Seamus with an old onesie on his head. He's been putting any clothes he can get a hold of on his head lately, silly boy!


They said it didn't get to blizzard conditions up here in northeast Ohio. I don't know who was calling the shots, but since DH and I had to drive in it, I'm gonna say that Medina was hit by a blizzard! It was white out conditions, cold as heck and we got over 2 feet of snow in less than 24 hours. The wind was gusting at 30-35 mph---that's blizzardy! Anyway, we made it through after having to drive in it---errands that would usually take us 2 hours to complete took us 6 hours, but we did it---and yes, we did have to go out, unfortunately. Here are some pics the from the day after the storm---it was beautiful out---the sun was shining and the skies were clear and blue---what a contrast to the day before!

As usual, click on the pics to get the full size!


Today it's gonna be in the 40's and the snow is going to start melting away. There are flood watches out now, due to the amounts of snow---we're not affected. Luckily for us, our house is up on a hill, probably 20 feet up from the yard. The yard is flooded at the back where the creek is, but that is to be expected. We've got a couple months of this to deal with before it really dries out and we can walk about without needing muck boots!

I've been busy cutting strips and blocks for my next two quilts. I'm making my nieces simple, patchwork quilts with soft backs, for snugglely blankies! I'm probably just going to tie them and I'm not sure yet if I am even using batting since the backing fabric is pretty thick and heavy. I normally wouldn't use anything but cotton or wool for quilting, but when I saw this soft poly fabric, I thought, wouldn't that make a nice, snugglely blankie???? I know my nieces will think so and allow me to stray from my usual quilting policies, LOL!



The new sewing room needs a lot of work, so it's not really been set up yet. The room is only 8 X 9 and the Grace takes up a whole wall and nearly half the room. The floor is raw wood---old raw wood. It needs to be either sanded and sealed or we put in carpet. The walls desperately need painted, the ceiling is cracking where it meets the wall because previous owners wallpapered it. There is no heating in there and no overhead lighting. The two outlets in there are fried. Like I said, it needs A LOT of work!





I decided to put my main sewing table in the dining room and I'll dedicate the room for storage and Grace. I had considered putting Grace in the living room and using the room for sewing but the baby constantly tried to climb on the frame and was messing with the rails all the time at the old house----it's better out of (his) site. I don't mind having my sewing out in the public rooms----we do not nor will we ever have a formal house, so it just kinda goes along with everything else---we live to LIVE and it's always obvious! Besides, the woodburner is in the diningroom and I love to sit in there with the doors open (and the screen up) with a roaring fire going while I read or sew, so I won't mind being in the dining room at all! We're going to be remodeling it soon, making it look more period. Maybe DH and I can come up with a design that can incorporate the sewing table into the room and make it blend better! Personally, I'm just not that worried about it! Although, I do plan on getting rid of the ugly curtain over the doorway and replacing it with a door!






I still have not gotten a chance to try out my Grace, yet. DH needs to fix or replace all the outlets in that room and get some lighting set up---right now there are some old wall sconces that don't even have a switch! To turn them on, you screw in the bulb, LOL! Not exactly good quilting lighting. I also want to get a sewing machine specifically for the Grace, I'm not so sure my Bernina will do well on it and I really don't want to have to keep moving it from frame to table. I'm just looking for a straight stitcher with a deeper throat that I'd be able to use with a stitch regulator. I can't afford any of the long arm machines at this point, and with the move and all the work we have to do around here, I'm looking at spending no more than $200, $300 at the most. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears (or eyes as the case may be)!!

Ok, I am off! Today is Sean's birthday and we're going to all go out to lunch and then taking him to get a guitar. Mr. Guitar Hero star had decided he wants to learn the real thing (YAY!!!) so I can't wait to get him a guitar and lessons! Stephen also plays and of course my brother is an excellent guitarist as well. I taught them all the basics (which is all I know) and they all took off from there and learned way more than I ever did! It'll be nice having a guitar player in the house again!

Have a good week!

Brrrrrr, it's still winter!

Well, we've been in our new house for nearly a month now and we have been through 3 major winter storms with another one hitting us as I type! It's been so beautiful, though, that I have to say, I don't mind winter hanging on a little while longer!





The boys had a blast with their sleds and snow boards. Here are some pics of them having fun!










So, we had quite a few days of snow and fun---then Monday hit and the temps went up to 68 degrees and all the snow was gone. We were left with water and mud everywhere---then we got hit with a huge ice storm and everything froze (this all happened in one day!)

Pics of the aftermath of the ice storm:



We were covered in ice for 4 days and then the sun came out and it all melted away Thursday afternoon. It was magical, I spent the day just watching our forest and listening the the ice cracking and falling---it sounded like a crystal rain. It was absolutely beautiful! I was sort of sad to see it go---but the storm itself did cause quite a bit of damage in Northeast Ohio, people are still without power 5 days later! We were lucky here in Medina, no major problems.

So it's now Friday and we are in the midst of another huge winter storm. Traffic is crawling on our street (the usual speed limit is 55mph) and we're supposed to get 12-18 possible inches by Sunday. The boys are happy, they are looking forward to snowboarding and sledding again!

I'm looking forward to spending the weekend indoors in front of the fire, cutting out two new quilts for my nieces and staying warm! I hope to head to the fabric store this evening before things get REALLY bad weather-wise and get some chenille to back the simple patchwork quilts I plan on making my two little nieces. I have some pretty pastel strips that I am going to use for the top for one, and lots and lots of 30's fabrics for the other.

That's it for me, hopefully we'll be unburied on Sunday and I can convince DH to take me to check out a quilt shop I just found out about in Wadsworth. I know there are a bunch south of us in Amish country---and I've been to most of them, but I'm not so sure of what is around in the immediate area. Time to explore!

Have a great weekend, I'll post in a few days with pics of some completed tops (hopefully!)

It's Done!

It's been a few weeks and my how things change! We got the house! We moved in the weekend of my birthday (Feb 10th) and it was horrendous to go through a move again---but it's over and I'm never moving again for the rest of my life! LOL!

Things didn't go smoothly with the close, of course. The ex wife of the seller decided to cause problems and delays by refusing to sign the offer---which was exactly the same offer she agreed to last fall before other problems occurred. She was just being difficult. We were supposed to close on January 30th and have possession of the house on February 3rd. Scott took time off from work for the week of Feb 4th so we could work on the house before we moved in on the 9th. The ex-wife messed that all up, we didn't end up closing until the 8th, the day before things were all planned out to move. Even after we signed the paperwork, they tried to delay us getting the keys so we could get in and clean before we moved in, but we just called up the seller and asked if he had any problems with us getting the keys before the title transferred---he didn't so we got them right away. We came to the house and cleaned until late that night, got home around 2 am and then had to get up at 7 am to get the truck. By the end of that night, hubby and I could barely even lift a finger, we were so tired. And it just kept going like that all weekend into the beginning of the week. By Wednesday, my back hurt so badly from moving boxes and unpacking that I could barely stand. I took it easy on Thursday and Friday so by Saturday I was feeling more like myself. We still have to finish getting stuff out of the old house and clean it up---we also told the landlord we would paint it for him so he didn't have to worry about doing it. He's been really good to us---when my first husband and I separated and he left me and the kids with nothing, the landlord didn't kick us out when I didn't have the rent. I got a job right away and he let me spread out my missed rent payments over time. He also let me be very late a few times without charging me fees, he's always been real good to us so I figured the least we could do is clean the place up and paint for him. I have to say, I'm not looking forward to it, LOL!

My sewing room needs work. They had carpet in there---but apparently it only went as far as the bed because the floor was bare after they took the bed out! The floors underneath need to be finished or painted. The water valve to the toilet in the bathroom next to my sewing room was loose and leaking so that had come through the floor in the sewing room. Hubby fixed the leak in a split second, now we are drying out the floor. I can't believe the previous owners couldn't have seen that and taken a second to tighten things up. Oh well, it IS a 145 year old house, there are plenty of things that need to be fixed! I don't think my Grace frame is going to fit in the sewing room, I may have to set up a spot in the living room for it---thank goodness the living room is huge! I also need some lighting in the sewing room---right now there are just some wall sconces, they don't even have switches on them! The room is really small, I think it's 8 X 9 so I'll have to really work hard to utilize the space. I told hubby that he is going to build me a big log cabin sewing studio on the property, LOL!

I can't believe how big this house is!!! We had 9 people living in the last house---which was all of 1050 square feet. This house is 2400 sq. ft. and it's very soundproof so I barely hear the boys and their loudness upstairs! Plus, there are only 6 of us now, so there is more space for less people, which is nice. I can actually sit in different areas of the house and have peace and quiet and not have people in my face every minute of the day! Not that I don't adore my family---but I have to say, it is nice to have some quiet time during the day! I have the most wonderful view from my kitchen windows and I love to get up early before everyone else and sit and look out the window. This is a picture out the window before we bought the house.

There are fields and trees out the window and we have some birdfeeders (which need filled and soon!) It's actually a 3 window bay window so it's quite a panoramic view.

I'll post pictures as we do some work around here---there is plenty to do. As for quilting, my sewing room won't be up for a bit but I am itching to get working on my Grace frame, which is still at the old house, :-(

Time to go relax, we have to get back to homeschooling tomorrow, we took a week break and I'm afraid it's going to be hard to get the boys back on track. They don't know tomorrow is a school holiday (President's Day) but since we've had a week off, I'm just going to start back up tomorrow.

I'll check in soon, hopefully I'll have some quilty news happening ASAP!!!

News and quilty whatnot! UPDATED SEE BOTTOM

Oh, I have SO much to tell you all!

First of all, some catch up. Christmas was wonderful. We were able to give the kids a real nice Christmas this year---which felt so great! AND even better, hubby and I were able to give to each other, something we'd never done before because we always wanted to give all to the kids. I was able to spoil him, finally---which was so fun and he deserves it so much!!! I got him an iPod and a stereo to play it on at home. I was able to get him a bunch of woodworking tools that he's had his eye on for quite a while. He has been wanting a shaving brush and soap kit for years, I could never find any in the stores around here so I looked online and found him a real nice set that comes with a badger hair brush and a tin cup filled with soap and a lid for the cup, it's really nice! I also got him some cologne he's been wanting, some country CD's and some books on woodworking. I got him the complete 30 year Mother Earth News on CD---he used to have years of the magazines that he had saved but they were all lost in a move---so now he has them in a more portable container---plus I got him a subscription to Mother Earth, Progressive Farmer, Country Side and Farm and Ranch. Now, reading those titles, you would think we live on a farm. Well, we don't---we live in the suburbs on a lot that isn't even an 1/8th of an acre. BUT NOT FOR LONG!!!

Yes, it is finally happening! We GOT THE HOUSE!!!! It's for real---although I have to keep telling myself this, after all the let-downs we've had over the last 3 years! Our credit is not only fixed, its good enough for us to qualify for a mortgage with a low, low rate! This was the best present hubby and I could ever have gotten---even after such a wonderful Christmas----this tops it all! Wanna see a picture of our new house???? New, old house---it was built in 1865. Click on pics to see larger view.

 

It needs a paint job---I think a nice barn red with cream trim and green shutters and doors.
Here are some pics of the 6 acres.





This is the sky shot, the yellow lines are the borders of the property. The next is the view out of one of the back bedroom windows. The last is just a view of the field behind that little shed. There is also a pole barn on the property and we have a small forest and a creek that runs through it. I cannot wait to move!!!! We should have the particulars on when the close will be and when we get the keys tomorrow or Friday, depending on the availability of the real estate agent.

So, with all that, you'd think that would be more than enough for a great start to the new year---and it really is---but there is more. I still haven't told you what hubby got me for Christmas!!!!

Initially, I had a Keepsake Quilting and a Connecting Threads Christmas with some Ebay stuff thrown in! He got me--it would be easier to just show you---here's a picture--click on it to see a larger view.

Can you believe it? What a wonderful Christmas! He would go into my Ebay and look at what I was watching--and he knew which ones I really liked without even asking, LOL! The other stuff is from Keepsake Quilting and Connecting Threads---he snuck my catalogs when I wasn't looking. I always highlight things I'd like to get throughout the year as money permits---well he got me a bunch all at once, I was shocked! And the sneaky guy had them delivered to his work so I had no idea. Typically, I don't want anything for the holidays, I would honestly rather give and see my family and friends happy---and that has always been the best present for me. I had so much fun getting presents this year, I was so amazed that he did all that! But wait, there is more.

Now, this didn't come until January 10th---he had to wait to save some money but imagine my surprise when the UPS guy knocked on the door with this box!


I was CRYING when I saw the box, I think the UPS guy thought I was nuts, LOL! I never thought I would get one of these, not anytime soon, anyway. This is the Grace Sturdy Lite, I had seen it in the Keepsake Quilting catalog and hubby and I had talked about him possibly making one for me---when we got a bigger house. This is a queen size frame, we had to rearrange our basement bedroom a couple times to find the right spot for it, LOL! I haven't tried it out yet---I have to get some fabric to make leaders for the rails---they need to be 94" long and any fabric I have in 3 yard increments is heavier fabric I use for costuming, I'm thinking it'll be too thick. I need to get some muslim. I can't even fathom buying more fabric after all hubby did for me, I have the best hubby in the world!

Anyway, now that we are moving soon, I'm probably just going to take it down and pack it up for now---well, maybe--maybe not! As those of you who've been following my blog know---I can't machine quilt my way out of a paper bag--well, except for straight lines or in the ditch. That's why hubby got me the Skillbuilder companions for machine quilting---I was going to teach myself how to do it--it's a whole new animal doing it on a quilting frame, I'm kinda scared---but excited, too!!! Oh, and the place he got the frame from not only had it for $50 cheaper---but they threw in a CD of QuiltCAD! I'm not sure how quickly I'll be ready for pantographs and patterns using the stylus, but I'm sure ready to give it all a try! I think this weekend I am going to put the Bernina on the frame and try some free motion quilting, if I could get 2 or three of my smaller tops done before we move, I could tackle the twin size and crib size quilts that have been waiting for the last year to be quilted! Here are pics of my UFO's that have been waiting patiently to be finished:




I've got a lot of work to do! Plus, I have to make my mom a chicken quilt and I have 3 quilts planned for my 3 nieces and my son Jaret wants a quilt, not to mention all the quilts I want to make for me---I hope I can master using the frame soon!

Well, that's it for me today---like I said earlier, we're just waiting to meet with the real estate agent to go out to the property and sign all the papers and get the close date. I'm hoping she is able to meet with us tomorrow, I don't think hubby will last until Friday, LOL!

Have a great week, and a belated Happy New Year to you all!

Updated Wednesday 1/16

We met with the realtor, our close date is January 30th and we get the keys and take possession on February 3rd!!!! Woo hoo, how's that for quick!!! Hubby is gonna take a vacation week starting on the 4th so we can clean and paint and we'll move in on the 9th---the day before my birthday. I don't think I've had such a wonderful birthday present---a new home with my somewhat new hubby and our family---it doesn't get better than this!