Variety, and Idalia Coming

As I continue - yes, still - to quilt my maximalist quilt, I thought you might like to see a couple of the rulers I've been using for ruler work. 

This "Wiggly Wave" ruler is made by Sarah Thomas who is @Sariditty. I've used both sides of the ruler - a narrow wave and a broad wave

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I still often use Fine Line Rulers, by Accents in Design. They're the first rulers I owned, and I still like the stand-up posts that give me something to hang onto. I have these rulers in various straight lengths, and curves. 

For the #30daysofimprovqal, last week I pieced Week 4 blocks: Curves. This was my favorite week of improv. Though, I think I'm the only person to NOT have made quarter circles!

Now comes the really difficult part - puzzling them together. I just re-stocked two yards of Painter's Palette Limelight that I will use as background, because these blocks need some breathing room!

As I was piecing improv curves, I used 1½" X 1½" patches as leaders-enders... completely unmaking and then remaking the 8" square block I'd pieced (using only print fabrics) the week before. I decided to insert solids between every print, and thus use-up solid scraps too. Different colors of 8" square blocks are my new leaders-enders plan. 

Book Recommendations

The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore was a refreshing change from the psychological thriller/murder/who-done-it books I've been reading lately. In fact, it was a happy change of pace. From the beginning, the story had me hooked. And smiling.

Sloane is a librarian, engaged to an up-and-coming doctor - a chiropractor whose mother couldn't be more proud of her son. Sloane loves her job, and in a twisted way, looks forward to the daily library visit of old, yet distinguished-looking, curmudgeon - Arthur. He takes great pleasure in insulting her, and everyone he meets. 

When Arthur doesn't come to the library, Sloane misses him, and in spite of a library policy of keeping a patron's information private, she goes to Arthur's home. She meets one of his neighbors, and later Arthur's grandson. Soon Sloane has enough friends to form a book club that she is sure will keep Arthur engaged. 

The book is about friendships, and how they form unexpectedly - in unexpected circumstances. It's a charming read. 

Linda's score: 4.2/5.0

In the book The Lonely Hearts Book Club Arther had been a college English literature professor, so he and Sloane (the librarian) often bantered about books, discussing everything from his favorite historical tomes to her favorite Anne of Green Gables.

Noting a title they discussed, I selected for my next read: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. I'm so glad I did!

This is the first book I've read that's narrated from a dog's point of view, and I thoroughly enjoyed how the descriptions of Enzo's (the dog) demeanor and behavior reflected what Enzo was thinking. He's a dog with a human soul. I couldn't help but think of our dear Hogan, who died four years ago this week - August 31. 

The story begins with Enzo looking back at how he came to belong to Denny, a young man with an up-and-coming race car-driving career ahead of him. When Denny brings home Eve, Enzo learns to love her too. And when they bring home baby Zoë, Enzo knows that his job is to entertain and protect her. But other than Dennys, Enzo's love is racing. When he gets to ride along with Denny around a track, he's happier than he ever imagined.

When a book brings me to tears, as this one did, I know it's exceptionally good. I'm delighted to make this must-read recommendation to everyone. 

Linda's score: 4.4/5.0

After that great book, it was tough to select a contender. So, I fell back on the usual - and most often available - mystery/who-done-it. 

Not a Happy Family, by Shari Lapena, is the story of a very well-to-do family (worth at least $30M) that lives in the posh Brecken Hill, in upstate New York. Their financial success was through Fred Merton's company, that he's recently sold. 

The story opens with the three adult children of Fred and Sheila - Katherine, Dan, and Jenna - gathering at the Merton home for Easter dinner. Each of the children is spoiled, and have great monetary expectations from their parents. So when an announcement is made about Fred and Sheila's plan to sell their home, it's met with mixed reactions. 

Two days later, the Merton's life-long nanny/housekeeper finds the bodies of Fred and Sheila who have been savagely murdered. 

The story follows two detectives, determined to find out who killed the Mertons. As motive after motive, and another new motive is uncovered, and each of the three Merton children and their partners are brought in for questioning, the reader takes a long and winding path toward understanding. 

Linda's score: 3.9/5.0 

Weather has certainly been in the news! 

When I saw this Instagram post from @Eric_Hanson_kcci in Des Moines, I couldn't help but think how well it spoke about the heatwave recently experienced across Iowa. Three women in Clarion put cookie dough in a car window at 8 am...

...and by 3 pm they had warm, baked cookies to enjoy. Seriously! 100+ degree days will do that.

And second, that a family could have good fun in a farm field, setting up this picture in their corn field of corn POPPING (HA!) in the heat. What a hoot!

Likewise, here in Florida we are watching the path of Idalia (pronounced "Eye-dahlia") as she has been a tropical storm and will be upgraded to a hurricane later today. At this time, we are in the path of Idalia, who, by the time she reaches our area in the wee hours Wednesday morning, could possibly be a Category 3 hurricane. 

Though we do outdoor prep and are taking precautions, we live in one of the safest (from hurricanes) areas of the state. We don't anticipate more than several inches of rain, and perhaps some high winds. 

I've frequently been thinking of and praying for our four grandsons, now ages 9, 12, 13, and 13 who have returned to school.

I very much appreciate that during Sunday worship at Lutheran Church of Hope we prayed for everyone - teachers, administrators, staff, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodial staff, and kids.

May God bless them all, and keep them safe. 🙏

Linda

Two Weeks a Go-Go

It's been more than two weeks since I've been able to post because we were again traveling, this time going 3,100 miles plus (4,988K) - from Central Florida to Kansas City to Mason City and Clear Lake, Iowa, back to Kansas City, and home. Our trip was to return grandson #3, Aesa to his family, and see my dad and sister in Kansas City; and attend Dan's 51st high school class reunion in Mason City, Iowa. We've had our fill of highway time - more semi-trucks than automobiles on the roads! - and "kickback" food at Drury Inns.

I couldn't believe my luck when I discovered that our arrival in Kansas City coincided with the Thursday evening (August 12) meeting of the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild (KCMQG), and that their guest presenters were Jenny Pedigo and her sister Helen Robinson of Sew Kind of Wonderful! How timely that in another eight days I'll be teaching two Quick Curve Ruler workshops, made by Sew Kind of Wonderful (SKoW)! 

R: Jenny Pedigo L: Helen Robinson

Jenny and I "know" each other through swapping emails, so it was a treat for us to meet in person and share a hug. I've made several SKoW quilt patterns, and for Show and Tell shared the "Metro Curves" quilt I made in 2015 and gifted to my daughter.

Metro Waves, 53" X 71"

Interestingly, this was the first time KCMQG had an in-person meeting since pre-COVID-19. About 65 people attended the meeting with many mask-wearers (like me), and more than 20 people on Zoom. I enjoyed seeing how they ran their meeting (very efficiently) so Zoom attendees could see each quilter and her Show and Tell quilt; and see Jenny and Helen, and their quilts.

These are a few of the Sew Kind of Wonderful quilts that were new to me. 

"Flower Pop" is really pretty in person and is cut using their new Wonder Curve Ruler.

These "Diamond Daze" quilts are cut using their new Quick Straight Ruler. 

While at the meeting, I also got to visit - too briefly - with my Kansas City friend Carla @lollyquiltz who I haven't connected with since before the pandemic. 

Then, it was time to head to Iowa. Though we were in Iowa when the Iowa State Fair began - one of a few things I still very much miss about Iowa - we didn't have time to attend. But I got a kick out of all the Interstate message boards in the Des Moines area that had this admonition: "Buckle up, Butter Cow." 

I laughed out loud. For those of you who haven't had the privilege of attending an Iowa State Fair, a fair tradition in the Dairy Barn is to display sculptures made from butter. The state fair butter cow is iconic. 

Another thing I adore seeing in Iowa is wind turbines, and since living there (more than nine years ago now) many more have been added to the Iowa countryside. 

I took many more pictures than these 'cause I love them so much!

There's something about them that's so mesmerizing. 

If I lived within sight of a wind turbine, I'm sure I'd find myself wasting days, staring at it dreamily.

This area along Iowa Highway 18 was a staging field of wind turbine pieces and parts. 

Clear Lake, Iowa is where we stayed in an Air B&B with Dan's high school classmate and his wife who live in Buffalo, Minnesota. We had a great time with them. 

Our little Air B&B house was a short walk away from the Surf Ballroom, another Iowa icon.

It's on the National Historic Registry, and is synonymous with rock 'n roller Buddy Holly who died in an wintery Iowa plane crash.

Nearby Mason City is where the fellas went to high school (their graduating class was 600+), and where two evenings of reunion activities happened - at the Moose Lodge, and the Olson Building at the North Iowa Fairgrounds. About 225 alums attended, so with guests, it was a good turnout. 

Mason City has greatly changed since I lived there in 1971, and Dan and I met. 

Artwork on the old downtown buildings reflect the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright who built several homes and commercial buildings in Mason City. 

Even this utility box at a street corner looked pretty darned cool!

All those miles in the car meant audiobook listening and English paper piecing for me. This is the only quilt-y making I have to show for the past two weeks - 6 blossoms and 8 crosses pieced for my Prudence Quilt. 

I have much more making ahead! Hopefully my next blog post will be back to more typical, work-from-home projects. 

Book Recommendation

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave begins intriguingly.

Hannah, a professional wood-turner whose life has been formed by the grandfather who raised her, is married to Owen, a coder for a tech company. Their family includes Owen's 16 year-old daughter, Bailey, who Hannah is trying to develop a relationship with. When Owen doesn't return home from work, and Hannah receives a cryptic note in Owen's handwriting that says simply, "protect her," Hannah is compelled to find out why he isn't coming home, what has happened to him, and what she should do.

The story follows Hannah's investigative efforts that take her and Bailey to Austin Texas (it was fun relating to visual descriptions of the city), a US Marshall, and knowledge that forces Hannah to make a choice if she is to do as Owen asked. Though the story is compelling, the ending left me wanting a different finale. 

Linda's score: 3.8/5.0

A recent indulgence for me has been to get mani-pedis. I've especially like to have my nails "dipped" (more durable and lasting than regular nail polish or gel), and had them done before our trip. This time I tried gradated color, with two palm silhouettes painted onto each ring fingernail.

It's fun to play with different nail designs, and I'd like to try doing them myself. I've seen some powder dip/liquid application advertisements, and wonder if they work. Have you tried any of them? Linda

Last Color Hurrah

We're counting yesterday's weather as a bonus day. It's rare that November 1 in Iowa is so beautiful, with the afternoon temperature reaching an unusually mild 75 F (23 C). We've enjoyed brilliant autumn colors, and haven't had to go far to appreciate them.

My own yard! In the foreground, a burning bush.

Maple trees in the backyard.

That's Dan, and Hogan the dog, walking on the sidewalk.

In the afternoon we drove to Saylorville Lake, Sycamore (boat) Access, and walked along the trail, soaking in the day.

It's a good thing we did! If we had waited until today we'd be soaked! It's not only raining, but looking and feeling very dismal. With a 30 percent chance of snow overnight, hurrah for color while it lasted. Linda

Autumn in Iowa... with Curtis

If this trail looks somewhat familiar to you, it's because you've seen it before, in August, when it was hot and green.

October 2011

August 2011

Today Dan and I returned to the High Trestle Trail, and bridge, between Madrid and Woodward, Iowa, for an autumn walk. 

The fellow up ahead was using a gas-powered blower to blow leaves off the trail! He has a l-o-n-g trail to take care of... as the wind was blowing more leaves.

At each end of the 1/2 mile-long bridge are these pillars. We walked onto it from the Madrid (east) side.

On the bridge, 13 stories above the Des Moines River.

Several informational signs along the trail provide excellent information about the area. This is a picture of the bridge piers. The photo was taken at ground level. See the person standing beside the pier? This gives you a perspective on how high we were above the river bed.

From the bridge, looking out across the river valley, we could see how low the Des Moines River is.

The river meanders to the south (toward the city of Des Moines), reflecting the sun and sparkling in the distance.

The view from the bridge shows what remains of an automobile bridge that was built in 1912. A railing around the top makes it an excellent viewing point from the Woodward (west) side of the bridge.

From the Woodward side of the bridge.

From the viewing platform (seen two photos above), this is the view back onto the bridge. 

Bicyclists love it, but then us pedestrians do too!

Now I want to return in the winter, though my husband isn't enthused about that idea. We'd certainly have to be well bundled up! Even on this mild day, the wind was whipping across the bridge, so it's easy to imagine what that would feel like at 10 degrees F (-12 C). Beyond frigid!

So on the way home we stopped at Hy-Vee (grocery store) to pick up a couple odds and ends, and look who I ran into! This is for you - all my Aussie readers and friends. 

We get to see good 'ole Curtis every day. All we have to do is turn on the tellie, watch a Hy-Vee commercial, and there he is! You had no idea we knew him that well. Now did you!? Linda