Sunday, February 21, 2016

Rainy Days and Sundays



It has been a crazy couple of weeks around here. My husband has decided to take a new job in Texas.  It has been a goal of ours to move closer to family as we get closer to retirement.  But, even though we have moved several times over the years it is always stressful facing a move.  I finally sat down yesterday at the hoop and finished hand quilting block # 20 of Baltimore Garden.  The final five blocks have the crosshatching marked.  So this am, I will be tracing my random flowers and leaves on the last five blocks and I will be ready to sit and stitch.



I am so looking forward to my slow stitching today. The sound of the rain drops or the wall clock ticking in the background help me to concentrate on the needle in hand, to free the mind from troubled or chaotic thoughts.  We all need time away from reality, a time to rest our minds.  I look forward to each Sunday when Kathy reminds us it's time for Slow Stitching Sunday.


34 comments:

  1. Csrla, your block is just gorgeous--and the quilting really beautiful....enjoy your Slow Sunday relaxation hugs, Julierose

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Julierose! I hate to see this one get finished it looks so lovely in the hoop.

      Delete
  2. Slow Sunday stitching is the best way to decompress! Your quilting is lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow.. you are moving! How fun that will be to find the perfect sewing room in a new place nearer your family too! I hope your hubby likes his new job once he starts that... so when is the move?? Enjoy your slow stitching today friend! It looks fabulous :) Kathi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I hope he enjoys it also. His old job was so stressful! It is like he is a different person since he left there.

      Delete
  4. Moving away from Arkansas! well on to new experiences - where in Texas? hope you well enjoy it - now on to the trials and tribulations of putting a house up for sale and finding a new place - and all that packing. I do not envy you that at all.Love the quilt you are working on

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are moving to the outskirts of NW Fort Worth. Near to where my son lives. Selling the house will be the biggest challenge as there are so many leaving this part of the state.

      Delete
  5. oh a move sounds hectic indeed!
    Lovely block / you have really accomplished a lot of quilting this winter! : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I am ready for the hard work of moving and reorganizing. The biggest hurdle will be selling our home. So many in the area are for sale. But we just have to take it day by day.

      Delete
  6. Moving is just the most exhausting event, isn't it?
    You will need lots of remedial hand stitching time.
    Enjoy today!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh boy--moving is such a huge undertaking! I hope everything goes smoothly and you enjoy your new adventure! Your quilt is looking beautiful--happy stitching!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Karen I know I will feel much better once our home sells. One hurdle at a time and we will get there.

      Delete
  8. I was looking back at some of your Baltimore Garden posts. What inspiration are you using for your quilting designs. They look beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I took some of the quilting designs from Barbara Burnham's pattern. Decided I wanted a half inch grid as the filler and to just scatter some motifs between the blocks. I want to trapunto them once I get the hand quilting done. Very similar to the original quilt except very close diagonal lines were used as the filler.

      Delete
  9. Your quilting, as always, is gorgeous! I'm glad you can enjoy some stitches today. Moving is a big undertaking - I hope it goes smoothly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Moving isn't fun but being closer to our son and his family will be well worth the effort. Now if we can just get this house sold.

      Delete
  10. Congrats on the new job for Hubby. Deep breaths and lots of stitches as you prepare for the move. Your quilting is lovely as always... someday I hope to be half as good as you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh your not far behind. You are doing what it take, taking a lot of slow stitches. I will take your advice I am sure some deep breaths and lots of stitches will get me thru this.

      Delete
  11. I feel your pain...as a military wife who has moved about 23 times, I said I would have to be blasted out of this house. However, grandchildren came and son is about to retire from Air Force and we will follow them when he does...have no idea where other than probably southeast. We have already started getting rid of stuff. I'm sure you will be happy once the move is done, but it is stressful. Your quilting will get you through!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have me beat! We have made four other state to state moves so have a bit of experience. I will feel a whole lot better once our home sells. We have learned over the years to whittle down and will whittle down a bit more since we definitely will be downsizing. Looking forward to that!

      Delete
  12. That's quite a move! Enjoy your time of relaxed stitching today -- this is going to be such a beautiful finished quilt! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, but I look forward to it as an adventure. We are so happy to be nearer our son and his family that it will be all worth it.

      Delete
  13. I moved 16 times during my 57 years of marriage. I suggest you try to look on it as an adventure. That will make it easier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I do! Being nearer to my son and his family will be a grand prize. Also allows us to downsize as we are nearing retirement. Love the idea of smaller and less funny how we wise up as we age. Thanks for your great advice.

      Delete
  14. When moving, I think the packing process is easier than the unpacking as a person has to decided where to put the item. Your applique quilt is coming along nicely. It can be a treat to stitch for hours and listen to the rain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I agree! But I did learn from our last move it doesn't need to all get done in a week. Yes it was nice to spend a few hours just stitching!

      Delete
  15. Sounds like you need that Slow Sunday down time at the moment. Good luck with your move.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I will feel much better once our home gets sold. Soft market has me worried but all we can do is take it a day at a time.

      Delete
  16. I have lived in the same town for my whole life. I have moved from my childhood home to an apartment to my current home which I have lived in for almost 30 years. I can't imagine moving several times. I look forward to moving when we are heading for retirement also. Probably closer to our children. I really love how your quilting is coming along. Enjoy the calming process of quilting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is how I grew up but soon after I married we moved for hubby's job. It really gets easier with each move and looking back I don't regret being able to live in five different states. It also really helped our children when they graduated from school. They had that experience under their belts when so many of their friends did not. I am very excited to move closer to my son and his family.

      Delete
  17. Always so many thoughts when it's time to move. Hope it is an efficient move and not too stressful. Love seeing your beautiful hand quilting and hearing your thoughts on stitching.:)

    ReplyDelete
  18. We have been in our home over 30 years and keep saying we want to move to something smaller but I can’t imagine packing all my stuff. Good luck with your move. Beautiful quilt you are working on.

    ReplyDelete