I'm on day 11 of the onset of COVID, and I'm not yet feeling 100 percent of myself.
At my lowest, I was in bed for about five days, unable to smell or taste anything. Those senses returned last Friday, but recovery has continued extremely slowly. My head feels tight. My throat feels "chunky." I'm coughing, and my energy is low. I'm not contagious though. On Monday I exercised, and then went to ukulele club, feeling listless and unable to sing all the songs. Today I decided not to take my usual power walk, and went only to Big Cypress Quilters. I'll feel better eventually.
I've hand pieced 77 Inner City blocks now, and don't know when I'll stop. At some point I have to figure out how big this quilt will be. Then I'll have to start joining blocks!
It's been wonderful to cut nearly all these units from solid scraps stored in my plastic shoeboxes. Such a satisfying feeling of using-up.
I've also spent some quiet, productive time with my sewing machine. This is the quilt top made from blocks pieced during two different workshops with Cindy Grisdella. It's about 65" X 70".
The video refreshed my memory about how best to fuse and appliqué. I did just that, adding more confetti dots to blank spaces. Now I think it looks like a party!
From a distance, pieced and fused dots don't look different, but I'm sure you can see them up-close.
I'm anticipating that quilting will meld any visible differences in techniques.
Book Recommendations
If you're wondering whether I've been reading books in January, let me say, I have. At the moment, I'm listening to my eighth audiobook this month.
However, I've decided to discontinue written reviews of each title. The reason is that reviews are my least favorite part of writing a blog post.
Since 2020, I have posted written reviews of 446 books!
Although some of you may be disappointed about my decision, I hope I won't lose you completely. Instead of a review for each book, somewhere near the end of each month, I'll post a list of titles, authors, and scores I've given to that month's books.
Good Food
When my taste buds returned, hubs made a much-appreciated homemade pizza. Each one he makes is impressive - visually.
Every morsel tasted delicious.
Quilt Show
This coming Friday and Saturday, January 24-25 is the biannual Showcase of Quilts put on by Quilting Guild of The Villages. With more than 1200 members in the guild (in 29 chapters), you can be sure quilt styles cover the spectrum. Members are limited to showing two quilts, unless they've made a challenge quilt, or have completed a quilt started during a guild workshop.
If you're near the Villages, Florida, Showcase is at Rohan and Seabreeze Recreation Centers. Friday: 9 AM to 5 PM
Saturday 9AM to 4 PM
Admission to both locations is $15, and good for both days.
If you'd like to see quilts in the Modern Category, they'll be shown at Seabreeze Rec Center, in the large auditorium room. Two of my quilts will be displayed there. Linda
So sorry Covid got such a strong hold on you! Hoping you'll feel more like yourself soon!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read that you have been laid low with Covid, there is still plenty of it around everywhere. You must have been feeling miserable to need five days in bed. We both contacted it last year for the first time and it took about 12 days till we tested clear, so made sure we stayed tucked up inside. Hope you are feeling much better soon.
ReplyDeleteI often didn’t read your book reviews but always loved seeing which were your favorites/highest ranked and read many of your recommendations based on that, so this works great for me! I can wait a whole month 😊. (The only reason I didn’t read the actual reviews was in case of spoilers of any sort!) I hope you feel better soon and that your throat isn’t as sore as mine was when I had COVID.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous! Thank you for letting me know you weren't reading the book reviews, but focused on the scores/rankings. I don't think I gave away much in my reviews, but I understand your reluctance to read them. I'm glad a monthly recap will suffice. Thanks for your feel-better wishes. I have up days and down days, and am good and ready for all of them to be up!
DeleteSorry to hear you've been sick for so long but it's nice that you've managed to get your improv top done. It looks so fun. A party for sure. We're both on our second cold in the past 2 months but feeling ok. Must say I'm really tired of not being at full strength. Going back to pickleball tomorrow for the first time in a month. Doubt I'll play well but getting back to it will feel good. Here's to getting well and staying well.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that covid has laid you low for so long. We've been fortunate that there hasn't been much of that in our area lately. Hope you're back to 100 percent soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry that COVID really hit hard. Hope you are getting your energy back. Your quilt does indeed look like a party--love the colors. I love using Misty Fuse for what little applique I do--it's a great product.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read that you are still not back from the Covid episode. ☹️ I love the explosion of confetti on your quilt 🎉. The fused appliqués are a great idea! I borrow from Hoopla also and have followed your 4+ stars recommendations so I will sure look at your now to be published monthly list👍 Take care, Marie
ReplyDeleteYes, sorry to hear you've been unwell, it's a long time to be feeling under the weather🤒. Love the variety of techniques used in your workshop improv quilt.
ReplyDeleteBummer about the COVID effects lingering on. It took me about two months to really feel better and still I have that weird cough! I do like that you will be posting the tittle/author and your score of what you are reading. You have given me so many great titles and authors over the years! I LOVE the additional squares of confetti to your piece. It says Party now!--TerryK@OnGoingProjects
ReplyDeleteHi Terry! Rather than experiencing more bounced emails from the edress you provided, I'm going straight to comments to reply to you. :-) Agree completely about COVID being a "bummer." Lingering, for sure, but perhaps compounded by the fact that hubs had an upper respiratory virus at the same time (not COVID), so I might have gotten a double-whammy.
DeleteThanks for your support of the changes I'll make about posting book titles/authors/scores. I really appreciate knowing this!
"Party Now." Hmm. Maybe there's a quilt title in your comment! Thank you for your affirmation of the confetti squares. I think I''ll add some more confetti dots in the quilting. Whether that's on the machine, or with big stitch hand quilting remains to be seen.
Your quilt top looks fabulous! I hope you continue to feel better and you are at hundred percent soon! Hopefully we will see you Saturday for a bit!
ReplyDeleteI listened to a video by Brian Ardis that says nicotine gum or patches will alleviate your symptoms. And we have been lied to, nicotine is not addictive and is in many foods, especially nightshade vegetables. Might help your recovery!
ReplyDeleteWell that's certainly an interesting concept! I've never heard that before, nor am I aware that nicotine is in nightshade vegetables. Had to look up nightshade vegetables, and it seems I eat only two of those: tomatoes and potatoes. So maybe the mashed potatoes I ate a few days ago were helpful. Thankfully, I'm getting incrementally better. I line danced for two hours today, and it felt good... though I'm still coughing. I'll get over it in a few more days. Thanks for thinking of me!
DeleteHopefully you're a lot nearer to 100% by now, Linda. Those confetti cubes are the cutest! And the pizzas are making me hungry--they look so good!!! I'll be interested in seeing which 2 quilts of yours you put in the show.
ReplyDelete