It's a Grey but Productive Sunday

I can't really complain because even though it's grey outside, the temperature is 51 degrees. Of course, that does make it a wee bit chilly indoors. I have friends who refuse to put their heat on until November 1st, but that's not me. So I put the oven on ...

In the works: ribs with Cajun seasoning, a whole roast chicken (how could I resist $1.69/pound?) and Brussels sprouts. I've got broccoli cheese soup in the making on top of the stove. I'm not looking forward to the blender part because it has always seemed awkward and labor intensive to me. Paired with yesterday's yummy crockpot beef stew, I'm all set for the week.  Maybe I should make a quiche for quick breakfasts ...

A Little Sunshine in the Form of Flowers

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Last night I started on a new landscape quilt. I've done it all backwards starting on the top first but I just had to spit out this design. So I may end up doing it all over to add the backing and batting, BUT I finished the layout this a.m. I was working in the living room so I have to put away the ironing board and unused fabric. Most of my fabric is in large plastic totes which are a wee bit heavy, so I'm getting a good workout just pulling the fabrics that I want to use. (They are stacked vertically due to lack of space.) And I'm getting used to the design so I don't mind leaving it on the coffee table for a while. I know this may sound weird, but including the paintings, I have to get used to what I have created.

Seurat's Eiffel Tower 

By the way, Seurat died four years after painting this (the Eiffel Tower was being built) at the tender age of 32!

Tina's Copy of Seurat

My pointillism dots are a lot bigger than Seurat's but I used a brush rather than the cluster of q-tips that Teri Magner gave us to use. I did use them on the border which I resisted adding, but I try to do what the teacher says!

(No, I haven't decided if I will show you the quilt in progress. It is SO unfinished ... )

I'm back. Had to turn off the broccoli so all of the liquid would not boil away and ruin my new pot. Emily gave me her 'old' perfectly good pots and I brought my old loved ones to the Senior Center. They were snatched up in a thrice! Thank you, Emily! (Her pots were not flat enough for her flat top stove.)

Today the Jones Library Knitting and Stitching Group is meeting at a local restaurant. I was going to go, but the combination of a flu shot and seasonal allergies has made me sound as if I have a cold. And just in case it is a cold, I felt I had better not go. But I do hope to add a knitted square to the quilt they are making for the Library's centennial. I have an almost finished square, but I think the yarn is the wrong weight. Oh well, there's still time to make another. Meanwhile, I have three more candle holders to make.

That's a flameless candle in there. These will be sold at the Sleighbell Fair on November 23 (South Amherst Congo Church). No, I didn't crochet the doily -- I bought it on Amazon Smile.

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November 19 is lift off day to go to Palm Springs. I can't wait to see Mom and friends out there, but am a little sad to be leaving. I have a regular routine of serving lunch at the Senior Center and then doing errands (Post Office, CVS, groceries, etc.).

Although last Friday I skipped Mexican Train Dominoes (Monday and Friday) and went to the MGM casino with Nancy P. The best thing about that place is that it's entirely smoke free. I love that! However, I NEVER win there. Nothing. Nada. Zip, Nancy, on the other hand does well and she very nicely bought me a fabulous dinner at the Red Rose restaurant. That eggplant parmigiana was even better than Mario's! Of course, the glass of Lambrusco brought the whole meal over the top. It's a good thing I'm too cheap to buy wine because I might have to have a glass every night if I had a bottle of Lambrusco here!

More later. The ribs should be done for brunch. 

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I'm back. Got the ironing board and the excess fabric stowed. Pant, pant. Learned a very important lesson: when using spray fabric glue, spray, then place. NOT place pieces and then spray. That's what I get for being impatient. I was taught to place the pieces, cover all with tulle, and then pin it like crazy. There really are too many pieces for the pin method so I thought I'd try the spray glue. (Also, my teacher is allergic to spray fumes so she doesn't use it.)

Here's a visual palette cleanser:

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Okay, but remember, this is really raw. It's called Almost Fall.

I cut off the top of the picture for this view because I saw a big correction I have to make. And, now, looking at the bottom I see more changes that must be made. But I have to let the glue dry ...

We don't have any nice color like what you see above. I'm wondering if the foliage this year will be a bust. Some trees have already lost their leaves. Only a few have changed color here. There is a plethora of acorns on the ground, making us wonder if it will be a particularly hard winter. It was very cold last year but not excessive in snow falls.

Now it's time to finish the broccoli soup, put away the chicken, get the clothes out of the dryer, and make the doilies into candle holders. I think I'll take a nap ...