A Little Update from Snow Country

Winter Storm Riley dropped a bomb on us last week. We spent a couple of days involuntarily “camping”.

Lordy, I love modern conveniences like working light switches and showers and warm food. Cindy and I come from hardy stock — you know the kind that never invests in generators or tractors with plow attachments nor are we people who remember to fill buckets with water prior to the storm so that they can flush. Too much detail, right? Oh well, apologies requested, but without electricity things get very real, very fast.

I thought briefly about using a vacation day and staying home to sew when I woke up on Friday morning, but then I remembered:

• I haven’t learned to hand quilt yet
• I don’t know how to use English Paper Piecing technique, so I have no hexi project  stashed away
• I’m a failed knitter
• I still haven’t quilted my spring chicken, so I have no binding project waiting in the wings
• I can’t imagine spending the day with two caged animals who have no internet access

Given the data above, I quickly decided to go to work where they do have a generator and a never ending supply of bacon and cookies.

The roads were a mess and there were electric lines down everywhere with trees falling into the roads and on the power and communication lines. Major props to the town road crews, electric company workers and emergency personnel who restored order very quickly. At the farm, mom and dad spent three days without electricity. When it was restored, the volunteer fire company came by to make sure that everything was functioning properly, as the danger of fire is higher after an event like this. Another reason that it’s wonderful to live in a small town!

I’m getting antsy for spring, so I think it’s time to release my Spring Chicken Table Runner 2018. Imagine a nice straight cross hatch pattern using a Bernina walking foot and then a bright green binding to emphasize the springy-ness. I can see it in my mind’s eye as if I’ve already done it.

Cindy and I signed up for the early April Chicago Quilt Festival some months back.  We opted for some machine quilting classes to supplement the shopping/vendor fun. Are you going to the festival too? We’d love to meet up with some of our followers/friends/fellow quilt bloggers there!