what's going on in the sewing room

Oh dear...what's going on in the sewing room?  A mess, that's what.

With the lovely days we've been having I've been doing spring chores outside so things are being neglected inside, but I do squeeze in some sewing time.

Well, just ignore that last finished quilt wadded up on the table, the roll of batting left out, and the jar of pickles beside the pile of stuff under the table.

Hey wait...that's not a jar of pickles!  But it is a pickle jar - perfect for saving buttons in.

Anyway, see the quilt top being assembled in the floor?  It's one that I've been working on one day  each month when my quilt group meets.  I finally realized it's easier to have one designated project that I only work on at the group nights, and leaved it packed up in between for the next time.

But, for now, all group meetings at the extension office are canceled because of the virus lock-down.
So I got this out to finish here at home because I have someone I want to give this quilt to.

I have the top finished up now and rolled on this pool noodle trying to protect it from the Puss, who would happily have it covered in black cat hair as soon as I turned my head...although she doesn't seem particularly attracted to this one.

I need to get it layered with batting and backing - ready for quilting.

Now, I am working on two other projects.  I had been working on the one pictured in the back when I saw an idea I wanted to try for the print fabric of the one in the foreground that involves sewing it together then cutting it apart.  We'll see how that goes.

The bad thing about all this is that I am supposed to be finishing up older things that I have already started on.  None of these are included on that list.

No self discipline, I guess, but it's fun, and I swear I will get back to the older projects just as soon as I finish these.

the iron fish

Last month, my husband found he had a slightly low hemoglobin level when he went in to his doctor for a checkup.  Not "danger zone" low and they didn't prescribe any medicine or treatment.

When I looked up causes of low hemoglobin, I read that low iron levels could be a cause.

Hmmm, I used to cook with cast iron skillets but not now, since I've had a glass cook-top stove. It isn't recommended to use cast iron cookware on them.

But I remembered the Sasquatch mentioning these "Lucky Iron Fish". They were originally manufactured to be distributed in countries where the average diet is low in iron...but now anyone can buy them on Amazon.  Cooking with these fish can add iron to your meals.

I talked to the Sasquatch about them and he ordered us both one.

You just simmer with your cooking liquid for about 10  minutes.  It does have to have something acidic in the liquid as well...tomatoes or a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar.

I'm storing mine in the drawer with my long handled cooking spoons hoping that will help me remember to use it.

It kind of scared me the first couple of times I opened the drawer and saw it there.  not expecting to see that eye staring up at me!

 

Lots of good information on the Lucky Iron Fish website- https://luckyironfish.com/

about what iron does for our health...important at all stages of life but especially for developing children and women of child bearing age.

They are pricey and I could have bought a whole cast iron skillet for the same price, but a portion of their sales dollars goes to help distribute the fish to communities where they are most needed.

so it's a win/win situation.

some spring blooms

While we're dealing with all the concerns and restrictions of COVID-19,  spring is arriving as usual, bringing beauty and warmth.

Apple trees and Redbud trees blooming in this photo taken from an upstairs window.

Zoomed out a bit so you can see what I've been working on this spring.  I got rid of my old rusting iron trellis and moved this white plastic arbor to that spot.  I had bought the plastic one a few years ago to support a hops vine.  I had no success with growing the hops...it just wanted to send up new shoots all the time instead of making one nice full vine.

The arbor looks much better in this spot than where it was.  The Clematis should grow up the sides but I may need to fasten them on at first.

I moved some other things in the flower bed above as well, including adding a Crepe Myrtle that was planted in a spot where it was failing.  I may have killed it by moving it but it was doomed to a slow death where it was.

Below, I like the Redbud trees more and more all the time.  It seems like their blooms stay on longer than some of the other trees. In the foreground are clumps of greenery that disappear before the blooms of naked lillies this summer.  

This is the view right outside our bathroom window.  A Dogwood tree. On the other side of the driveway, another Redbud tree.  Crabapples were blooming there a couple of weeks ago but they seem to drop their blooms almost immediately.

Also, our Japanese Red Maple. The new leaves in spring have the most vivid color.

Purple Iris making a show here by the Contorted Filbert.

And Yellow Iris here along the fence.  The dirt was bad and hard packed in this area but I've been dumping coffee grounds and vegetable scraps there to attract earthworms.  I think it's helping.

From the other direction...Azaleas, and a Lilac Bush that I cut back severely last fall.

These photos probably look just like the ones I post every spring.  But I am always amazed at this gorgeous show of spring color. So welcome after a dreary winter.

Costco shopping

I made an early run to Costco last week.  When I pulled in the lot, I saw a line stretched around to the back of the building.  I thought they were limiting the amount of people in the store due to the virus, but then they let everyone in at one time.
It turned out that they'd had special early morning hours for elderly and at-risk shoppers and they were waiting for them to get through check-outs and out of the building before letting everyone else in.  Very considerate, I think.

Once inside, there was a worker letting everyone know immediately that "the line for toilet paper starts in front of the meat case".

Of course everyone was stampeding back there - me included.  My regular supply was getting low and I figured I'd better buy some while I could.

Oh what a glorious wall of toilet paper!  

Workers were handing out the packages to keep the line moving.  Limit one per customer and that's all I needed. It's a 30 roll pack!

All things are strange and different.  I bought gas afterward for $1.459 per gallon!  

I was wishing my tank would have held more.  

I stopped in the Lowes garden center on the way home trying to prolong my outing for the week.  I didn't buy any outdoor plants but noticed a rack of small potted succulents on clearance. I couldn't resist their cuteness.  I didn't have a cart, so just bought as many as I could carry.

Maybe not such a good deal since now I'll have to buy potting soil. Sheesh!