The end of July

 It's our hottest month, and I'm not good in the heat. August is also hot, but a different hot. When I worked in schools, we said August is the Sunday night of the school week. Like the weekend is almost over, and back to work soon. Here in jersey schools start around Labor Day.

 I fell in like with this pattern from Cluck Cluck Sew, so I bought it. I have a bunch of fat quarters and 10 inch squares that I can use.

 So far, two Halloween table runner tops done! I want to make one for each of my girls.

 I sent this to my son in law Ben, and Manda said he's thrilled with it. I do bonus gifts, if I see something I think someone would like, I get it. Often I consult with the spouse of the person I'm considering the gift for, but sometimes I order then tell them. 

 

 Baby granny in blues done! I like to keep a bunch of baby afghans around. Steph takes one whenever one of her employees has a baby, Heather will make a raffle basket around one for the Dance Team shows, and I gave one to my wonderful housecleaner when her daughter had a baby last winter. I started another one last night, a ripple. I only work on them when I have the TV on. I'm not ready to commit to a big XS project yet.

Evening sewing

 I usually sew in the morning, when I sew. I've been sewing this week, since I'm not ready to start another xs project. I'm also crocheting, when the TV is on, but I haven't taken a pic of that yet.

 Last night I put this one together, from another charm pack. I got the urge to sew around 7 pm. I found that the sewing room is warmer than the rest of the house- Ralph said it's the end of the AC run. 

Last year (or the year before) we flip flopped the sewing room and the guest room, AKA Steph's old room and Manda's old room. I used to sew in Manda's old room, since she moved out first. It has one window. When we decided to have the rooms painted and new carpets, it dawned on me that Steph's old room has 3 windows! It's slightly smaller, but that's OK. Manda's old room became the guest room/exercise room/ grow light room. Ralph uses it as his nap room, and when he can't sleep in our room due to his arthritis, he moves to the guest bed. 

So the sewing room has a ceiling fan with lights, but it leaves shadows. I wasn't able to thread the machine in that light. So I ordered a cool floor lamp, which will come tomorrow. I want to sew when I want to sew!

Another one!

 I have a lot of charm packs that I bought when I was making coasters. Now everyone has plenty of coasters, and the charm packs were sitting on a shelf. Then I found the zigzag pattern!

 I made this top yesterday, in about an hour. I'm doing just tops now, later I'll back and quilt them. 

It's a row of 2, then 4, then 3 rows of 5, then 4, then 2. Ralph used our amazon boxes and made me templates for each row out of the cardboard. That lets me lay out the colors, then stack the rows.

Steph had got me a set of straight pins for Xmas that have two kinds. One kind has numbers on them, and one kind has directional arrows. So I can put a number on the top of the row, and not lose my place. Both those hacks help immensely. I can sew the squares into rows, then move to the ironing board and iron them all. Then back to the sewing machine to sew the rows together. Efficient and satisfying!

I have an appointment for a dental cleaning in an hour. Ralph will go with me, and we'll stop at Aldi afterwards. We supposed to get tstorms later today.

Holey Moley! The Prosecutor vs the Felon!

 Or a much stronger expletive. Yesterday Biden announced that he is leaving the prez race, and endorsed Kamela Harris. Yike! Talk about historical. At first I was really upset, then the endorsements started coming in. I was afraid the dems would shoot themselves in the foot, as usual, and run someone other than Kamela, and hand the election to the felon. 

I'm excited to find who they will choose as her running mate. I'd love Mayor Pete, but they wouldn't win. I'd love Whitmer, but they wouldn't win. The country is still more racist and misogynistic than it should be. Shapiro would be a great choice. We should know fairly soon. 

Now I'm going to donate to the  Harris campaign, because I want my grandchildren to have the same rights that my generation fought for.

 

Sunny Sunday

 We had a few nicer days, but the heat is due to be back. It is July, after all.

I got all my floss back in their little bags and in the correct drawers, so I can find the colors when I need them. Yesterday I put my initials and the year on the Winter XS. So now all it needs is framing. 

Yesterday I spent some time in the sewing room. I made the top for another zigzag table runner. I had previously arranged the squares, so I just had to sew them together. Ralph had made me cardboard templates for the rows, so it's easy to move them from work table to machine to iron. This makes 3 tops made. Eventually I'll back and quilt them. 

I ordered some Halloween charm packs to make runners for my girls. 

I'm also getting in some reading time, and a little crochet time. I'm not ready to start another xs project just yet. 

This month our local Legion had it's breakfast fundraiser today instead of Saturday. Ralph goes and socializes, and brings me back takeout. Eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, and biscuits, and a pancake. Not bad for $10, and helps the Legion.

Mid July!

 July is always our hottest month, and this one is no exception. It's been in the upper 90's for a week! And, of course, thunderstorms. 

And of course I'm having a nervous breakdown over politics. Project 2025, The dictator wannabee, and JD Crazy Evil Person. I'm not real worried about jersey, we're so blue. But the rest of the country? A real crapshot, so many people are so gullible. I want my granddaughters and all the young women to have the same rights as I have. 

Reproductive freedom was Mom's big issue- was she seeing into the future? She's rolling in her urn, if ashes can roll. 

Can I sue the republican party for causing me lack of sleep? 

On a happier note, Winter's Welcome is done! 126K stitches, 6 months and 2 weeks of work. Done on 18 count aida, all tent stitch, 3 strands over one. I just have to put my initials and date on it, which I'll do today. 

I'm so happy with it! It's actually lighter, the living room was a little dim when I took the picture.

94.5

 That's both the temp and the percentage of the xs project!

 Finished this section last night, and moved the qsnap for the final time!

 Not the greatest pix, because it was dark out, and it was by the light of the Ott light. I started this January 1, and based on the first month, projected that it would be done the end of August. But I've worked on it almost exclusively all year, and now I project the end of July-ish. It's huge, the scale doesn't show well in the pix. 

I was up early ish this morning, so we went to IHOP and had breakfast. I got some big breakfast special that will be breakfast for the next 3 days! Ralph got a huge omelet, and will have enough for at least one more meal.

It's another hot day in month of hot days. July is always our worst month for heat and humidity. 

July is here!

 The year is half over, amazing!

And Winter's Welcome is 92% done! Yikes! Another few days and I'll be able to move the qsnap for the last time!

Lots of birthdays in the family this month! 

We've become Aldi shoppers, we've been there 3 times so far. Amazing how much cheaper they are! And good stuff. I figure if we go there every two weeks, we can drop back the Shop Rite runs to maybe every 8 weeks. I get my meat exclusively at the Amish Market, so I don't pay much attention to Aldi or Shop Rite's meat departments.