A Rainy Saturday and A Little Sewing

I’ve had several early mornings this week and had to be on the job before 7 am today. That’s a terrible way to start a Saturday. But I was done by 10 am and was quickly on my way to Molalla in the rain for Rico’s sheep herding lesson.

It poured all the way there. We lucked out and had pretty good weather during our lesson. But it was damned wet out there!

I make a habit of always having my rubber boots in my car. Even in the summer. You never know when you’re going to need them in the Pacific Northwest.

Rico did an amazing job! Our teacher gave us a little course to run and Rico did such an amazing job! He was so happy and enthusiastic, yet cool and collected.

And when we were done we did a little actual work and moved the sheep we had been working into a pen for the afternoon.

He loves this so much! It’s really what he was meant to do. It’s really fun to see his training in a practical application.

After another rainy drive home I grabbed some lunch … scrambled eggs and toast! I was chilled and it was warm and comforting.

Then I did a little housework in prep for my friend’s arrival in a little over a week. I got the bed in the guest room made and got the room dusted and vacuumed. So that room is ready for company. Then I tidied up the living room so all I need to do there is dust and vacuum. Then I dug out about 20 large bags of old dog treats that were all expired between 2018 and 2022!!! I can’t even imagine what that all cost me. I’m trying to be much more conservative in my dog treat buying habits now. Sheesh!

One thing I tidied up in my living room was the fabric and batting left over from having my living room quilt finished. So while I was dealing with the batting, I decided to go ahead and cut it to make quilt sandwiches for a couple of the Frankenbag panels I made from the pieces I trimmed from that quilt a few weeks ago.

I got the two quilt sandwiches finished and even managed to quilt these two pieces.

I decided that this needed to be quilted with black thread. It’s nearly impossible to see the black thread on that black fabric so I’m sure it’s wonkier than usual. But if I can’t see it, I would doubt anyone else can.

Once the two panels were quilted I trimmed them to size and cut out the corners for the gussets.

I stopped there and fed the dogs and myself some dinner. Then I realized that the rain was sort of light so we headed out for a two mile walk before it got dark.

The rhododendrons are so gorgeous right now.

These blooms were enormous! And they had the most beautiful pale pink in the centers.

Look at this gorgeous pink one!

I had never seen a rhododendron in person until I moved to Portland. And they are everywhere here! So many different colors and sizes.

I think this deep orange one is a variety of azalea. It’s really striking. The blooms on this one are MUCH larger than on the regular azaleas.

There are so many trees in bloom still. The dogwoods are fading a little but they aren’t done yet. You can smell the lovely aroma of the blooms in the air. This red horse chestnut tree is one of my favorites in the neighborhood.

When we got home I decided to hit my sewing room again and make the handles for the bag panels I quilted earlier. I was happy to find the pieces already cut to size in my sewing room closet.

I usually use brown vinyl for my handles but this bag was screaming for black,

Since I had gotten that far I went ahead and sewed the outer bag together.

Here’s the other side.

It’s really fun to see the trimmings from that quilt come together in such a random bag. I really like it. Now I just need to decide what to line it with.

I might go ahead and make up the two other panels I made from those trimmings before I make the linings and pockets and finish both bags.

I’m going to go pick up five quilts from a woman who has hand-finished the bindings for me. I found her at a local quilt store a few weeks ago. These are the five quilts that I traded quilting for finished quilt tops last summer. I’m pretty happy I found someone to do the bindings for me. I love a hand finished binding but my hands just can’t take the wear and tear. I have to save them for pickleball!

After the visit to the fabric store I’m going to play pickleball. I’m signed up to play at one place and am on the waiting list for another place. Both at 1:00. I’m really hoping I move off the waiting list at the second place because that’s really where I want to play. Fingers crossed.

I hope to get a little more house keeping done tomorrow and I would like to get one half of my Brandon leftover quilt sewn up. I also need to see if I can find some kind of top for my trip to Vegas in ten days. Working from home does not keep your professional wardrobe up to snuff!