Thursday, March 24, 2011

Things loook much better today !

This was what it looked like Wednesday (March 23) morning after the crazy weather Tuesday evening and through the night... We had snow thunder and lightning...rain, sleet, ice pellets, snow, and wind !.. The official total for the Fargo area was 9 inches, but it sure looked like more than that !..... After more than an hour of snow blowing hubby got the driveway cleaned out.
And then we had to find our way to Fargo ......Both the Interstates were closed...and remained closed till early afternoon...but we know the back roads to town !....so got there with no problem.
Hi Ho - Hi Ho - it's off to work we go !!.......
With the stronger March sun yesterday and today......things are looking much better !! BUT there are snow piles EVERYWHERE....... The flood forecast will be updated again very soon..........so we will see if this snow is going to add to the severity of the spring thaw/ possible flood.
So....now that things are pretty much back to normal.....we can get back to "Thinking Spring".....

Sunday, March 13, 2011

A blanket sooooo loved.........

The other day while I was working at the quilt shop a young girl and a young man came into the shop. Observing them walking in the door I could tell they had never been in a quilt shop before. She approached me and asked if we fixed blankets. I smiled and told her no, we don't fix them but I could sell her everything she needed to make a new quilt !...
She looked so disappointed that I had to ask her more questions...... Did she mean a large quilt ?....or what exactly did she need fixed. She told me she had a "blanket" that she has had for 19 years and it has a couple holes in it...and she was afraid to wash it, for fear it would fall apart.
Just looking at this girl I was thinking that I bet she is a college student far from home and she had a special little blanket that means alot to her. If this young girl had the courage to come in and ask a perfect stranger for help....I just had to see if I could help her. I told her to stop by and bring the blanket and I would see if there was something I could do.... She said she would go get it right now !
When she returned......she was holding this little faded baby blanket....that had been so well loved !.... I explained to her that I would try to fix it....but it would not make it brand new again... and she understood. So...I told her to pick out and buy some flannel and I would see what I could do...... A co-worker suggested that she put it in a "Memory Box".....but she hung onto it even tighter.... and she said maybe she could in a couple years, but not right now.
Hmmmmm......how was I going to help this special little blanket ?
I had to try..... For a young girl who asked for help from strangers.....this had to be a very special little quilt. And yes, in talking to her, she is here going to college...home was many miles away....and she needed her blanket. ( I understand about "big girls" needing those special blankets......my daughter who is 34 years old TODAY...still keeps her special blanket close by. )
I cut patches...did some sewing.....some applique.....re-sewed.....tried the best I could to patch up the worn spots and still maintain the integrity of this little quilt.
The next day I called her to tell her I had it ready....... When she saw her quilt she was so excited to see the holes were patched and to see it will survive many more washings and it will be with her through her college years. She wanted to pay me for fixing it for her.....but her smile and a big hug from this young lady was more than enough payment... Who knows...maybe she will want to learn to sew a quilt one day........I sure hope so !!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

March is going too quickly !

March days are going by very quickly too !! We still have cold weather here.....waiting for the spring thaw....but then.....we have the threat of flooding here in the valley..... they are getting ready.....building dikes and filling sandbags.

It will be awhile before we see those signs of spring like the budding trees and the flowers starting to peek through the cold ground. My neighbor and I have to discuss our garden plans for the spring.

Nothing exciting going on today............just a good day to catch up on little things around the house.
Have a great day.........!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Happy March !!

Well, let's see what March might bring ?............. These two lazy cats are the only ones who get to come into my sewing room .........they lay down and don't get into things. Little Mitzer (below) is the one who is always stealing my chair !

Been a very busy couple weeks around here !!! My daughter got a new job, my husband has accepted a new job........ I am going to stay put at the quilt shop !
We have been very busy there - new fabric coming in the door......and that gets us all excited to SEW SEW SEW !! Have to get some fun new items sewed up from the new fabric !! We are planning LOTS of fun things for the upcoming few months !


This is the latest quilt I made......it is now back from the quilter and I will be putting the binding on tomorrow night while watching some of my favorite TV shows. I just finished my little March calendar quilt........not sure if I even remembered to take a picture of it..... I will have to take a picture at the shop.
The other news from the Red River Valley of the north is...........spring flooding !.....
The numbers keep changing.....but it looks like everyone is getting ready..... they are running sandbagging operations in both Fargo and Moorhead....and the dike building has begun..... seems they are starting those rather early.....but I guess better to be prepared than have to try to do that as the river is quickly rising. I have not heard of much flood preparation here in our little city.......but I imagine those who are in charge have the plans in place and will let us know when they need help. I can't fill sandbags or stack them anymore.......but I will gladly bring food and snack items for those who are working.
It is getting late and I need to get up early and get to the quilt shop. I hope to go have breakfast first !......


Good Night............