Not Quilting

Well, my bias tape challenge quilt isn't done yet. This is all the further I managed to get on it before grandsons arrived for eight nights - drawing lines around the perimeter to square it up in anticipation of sewing binding to the quilt.

Tay and Aesa are now here from Kansas City. We picked them up in Orlando while their mom attends a conference, and have been finding things to do.

Being full time grandparents is way outside the norm for us. "Demanding" is the word that describes our week. Keeping five and four year-old brothers occupied, separated, and making sure there's complete equality in everything - who gets dressed first; who gets the orange or blue whatever - has been challenging. Who would guess that an argument would ensue over who gets to ride, facing backward, on the four-seater golf cart?! Suffice it to say that I have forgotten (intentionally) how parenting is a full time job.

As we've been finding things to do, one particularly pleasant outing was to Silver Springs in Ocala. I had been there as a child, probably 55 years ago, and still remember it. The place was really something in its heyday. Now it's Silver Springs State Park. 

Once upon a time it was a bustling tourist attraction. When we were there, about twenty cars were parked in the huge lot meant to hold hundreds of vehicles. This entrance used to queue up long lines of people at five ticket booths. 

Still, it's a beautiful place with huge cypress trees dripping Spanish moss, wildlife, and those iconic glass-bottom boats. The same boats that were built in 1962 are still taking visitors along the Silver River and over the pristine springs. 

Wandering around after our boat ride, we noted empty buildings, pavilions, and shops. It made us feel a little sad to see the changes - the faded grandeur. We concluded that natural beauty just doesn't have the attraction it once did. And we're sure that has impacted Ocala, and all the nearby mom-and-pop motels that are no longer in business.

Anyway, we're finding things to do with the little boys, though we can't decide if we're doing a good job of wearing them out, or visa versa!

Two days before the boys arrived, we had our guest room ceiling painted. I saw this ceiling-painting idea on Houzz, a wonderful resource for home decorating ideas, and immediately loved the idea. The Sherwin-Williams paint color is "Belize," and I couldn't be happier with it.

The empty wall above the bed is for my waiting-to-be-quilted English paper-pieced "Flower Ball" quilt. The piece is appliquéd on a Kona Azure background that nearly matches the ceiling color, so I know it will look great.

I broke down and bought a new rotary mat after noticing that my rotary blade seemed dull until I happened to cut some fabric on a newer mat. The rotary blade was just fine! So, after more than 20 years use, it turns out the old mat was just plain "mushy." Besides, the old Olfa mat was only 23" X 35"; my new Omnigrid mat is 24" X 36". 

Left: new Omnigrid mat; Right: old Olfa mat

Online shopping turned up the best deal through, surprisingly, Joann.com. The mat was only $31, so with a $2.99 coupon for shipping, it turned out to be quite a bargain. While I was at it, and the deal on shipping was too good to pass up, I also bought a 6-1/2" X 24" Olfa rotary ruler, and a June Tailor Quilter's Cut and Press 1. Yep, I'd worn out those tools too. After a couple decades of quiltmaking, that happens. Do you know how long it's been since you bought your basic quiltmaking tools? Linda