Home Quarantine - Week 2 Progress

I joked last week about a self-imposed quarantine. It as my excuse to stay home and se. That was fun and I enjoyed myself.

In our day of modern technology, it's easy to stay in touch with people without having physical contact. That is becoming our new normal, like it or not. It's one thing to want to stay home, it's another when it becomes mandatory and essential. We don't have to like it, but it is necessary.

Monday morning as I sat and did my devotions, Psalm 34, I'm thinking about relying on God for every need, rejoicing in our circumstances and not feeling isolated. I got an email saying my weekly Bible study had been cancelled for the remainder of the year - at least the in person study. Headquarters is looking into virtual meetings.

I'm watching cars go by. The grocery store and library are 10 minutes down the road, only a mile away. 

 

The sun is shining, flowers are blooming. No children are walking to school, no school buses driving by. Our world is changing ever so quickly.  

I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 

Psalm 34:4

These are scary times, but we can't live or thrive on fear, we must find our refuge and comfort in the Lord. Plan, be prepared, but don't be afraid. We make bad decisions in times of fear and uncertainty. Take a minute, reflect, make a plan and rely fully on Him and we will all get through this new normal.

Taking advantage of all this time at home is a time to stay connected, pray and catch up on all the things neglected or just behind on at home. For me that looks like the basement will finally get finished, I have plenty of time to cook, clean, bake and of course, sew.

I started Sunday with a batch of pasta sauce, which I doubled on Monday because it just didn't look like enough for the freezer. I let that cook in the crockpot all day and went to my sewing machine.

* * * * *

* Warning, this is a really looooong post :)

These are my goals for the month of March and what I will be working on for the last two weeks.

Fall Into A Quilt - plan the layout

Monique Sew Along - layout the blocks

12 Things - pull the first block of BirdSong

Doll Quilt - need to make 1

Doll Gown - need to make 2

Susan's BOM - Get March's instructions and do

PLQS BOM - still waiting for this to arrive, but when it does, do it

F2F Blocks - need three, pull fabric and make, mail

Sunday Stitch - finish page 2

* * * * * 

I started Monday, March 16, with Fall Into a Quilt, my One Monthly Goal/UFO. 

I started by framing blocks that weren't up to size. I have done much better at matching points, but sizing things correctly continues to be an issue. This project was started as a block of the month in 2018, so I have gotten better.

I started a new quilt. It's a simple patchwork just because I wanted something pretty for spring and I had the fabric.

By dinner time, the past sauce was bagged and in the freezer. I also made a batch of morning glory muffins. It made 2 1/2 dozen !! The half dozen were consumed almost immediately. I put one dozen in the freezer, the rest will be for lunches and breakfasts this week. 

I spent my evening planning the layout for the Fall quilt and 

finishing page 2 of Sunday Stitching Journal.

Tuesday, March 17

This day started a little less enthusiastically. Several things kept me awake, none were related to the quarantines. I finally gave up at 4 a.m.

I finished folding the load of rags I washed on Monday and put them away. Honey Do was up at 5, so I made breakfast and packed his lunch. I took a short nap after he left for work, then began working on OMG/Fall and listening to a new book. I've been keeping up on my personal goal of reading/listening to one book per week.

Blocks framed, layout decided, next up sashings and fillers to be it up to queen size.

 

I managed to get the first four rows together. I am very pleased with the progress after such a slow start.

Wednesday, March 18

After a pretty good night's sleep, I'm ready to roll.

I finished adding the fillers and borders. The goal is complete. I am planning on quilting next week, after my other monthly goals are completed.

As leaders and enders, I've sewn together strips of Easter prints that were gifted to me by Susan.

I haven't decided how big the quilts will be, but they are bound for donations as part of this year's H2H, Hands 2 Help charity drive.

Thursday, March 19

I started my day with a review of my 12 Things To Do goal. It's a wool applique called Bird Song

I love birds, always have, so that made the design appealing. I didn't really want another new project since I've been making UFOs and using what I have a priority. But I let myself get talked into it. It's a BOM so I'll add it to my goals and work on the blocks monthly. Honey Do will make copies of the patterns as suggested by the designer so I can cut the pattern pieces out and make them more manageable to work with.

I made the binding for my OMG/Fall quilt, pieced the backing and got it sandwiched. It is officially ready for quilting.

I spent my evening do more cross stitching.

Friday, March 20

My mornings typically start at 5 a.m. After Honey Do leaves for work, I find a movie and do some stitching. This was typically between the time he left and Newton got up for school. Since school is cancelled for the forseeable future I have a little more time to start my day. It's too early to start working on cross stitch but I do quietly sit and embroider.

Page 3 of Sunday Stitching Journal

Then I move on to my chores and sewing. To stay productive before it was time to leave for errands, I worked on a doll quilt.

 This is made from a 2.5" charm pack I had. I loved it when I purchased it, but honestly, didn't know what to do with it. A doll quilt is the perfect solution. I had it all put together before I left.

I had plans to do some shopping. I haven't left the house since a week ago Friday. That's almost unheard of as there is always something to go out for. Mom is in Canada with her sister and everything else has been cancelled.

I was out of milk. I wanted some fresh produce and other odds and ends just because I was going. I got everything on my list between Aldi and the local grocery main store. Paper products were out completely or very limited. I didn't need anything from that department, but did look just in case. Because of concerns for how long this will go on, I would have picked up toilet paper if I had found any. 

My other wants and concerns were flour and yeast because if you find bread, it's very limited. I still have some, but I want to be able to make it. I found the yeast at Aldi, but they had no flour. I did get the flour at the second store, but paid more than I normally do. I got a bag of bread flour and one all purpose. I can make my Amish bread starter and bread next week.

Everything put away, I finished the doll quilt.

Another goal finished.

I moved on to doll gowns and my PLQS BOM. They rolled over into Saturday.

Saturday, March 21

And the end of the second week arrived. It's been very productive :)

Doll gowns

PLQS BOM

 

And finally, three swap blocks.

Hope you all had a good week,

Thanks for stopping by.

Don't worry about anything; 

instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need, thank him for all he has  done.

Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. He will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Phillipians 4: 6-7