Roadkill

I didn't have court, today, and spent much of it meditating on the terrorist attacks that took place eight years ago. What an awful day.

I can tell I am healing. For many years, I would ask my husband to not go to work on the anniversary. He works in DC and I worry about a repeat. Every year he has kindly told me that he won't cower at home and let the terrorists "win." This year, I hugged him goodbye and told him that if they attacked, to not even think of coming home unless he took a few down. "you can hit them over the head with your chair." I told him.

"I will burn them with my pipe," he said, as he walked out the door without a backward glance.

Sure feels good getting my mojo back.

But that doesn't mean I didn't watch the television coverage of the memorials or that I didn't cry several times.

I am working on a paper pieced round robin from the HGTV message board. I'd already done the center, which was to be any sized paper pieced block. I've already posted it but decided to put it on point, which expanded it to 18 inches:


The first round called for paper piecing in the corners. I ended up making it be a center rectangle instead of a square. Here it is, in progress:



I modified Carol Doak's Mariner's Compass pattern "Africa." I chose that one because it was simple. The center block is simple and I didn't want to completely overwhelm it.


It took me forever to pick out the colors. I wanted to use some of the same ones as in the center but add extra. I am not sure you can tell, but the outer boarder is a light blue.

Here is a closeup of the corner:



There are five or six more rounds, coming. The first border was three inches (finished) but the center block is so large that I will have to be careful on the subsequent rounds to not make the finished project too big.

I am having a good time with the project and given the meditation I was engaged in while working on it, today, I may name it my 911 Memorial Quilt. I am not sure I will be able to work on it in the future without thinking of the survivors of 911 and sending up a prayer for their healing and happiness. This year, for me, was about life going on.

Oh, and here are the latest Sylvia's Bridal Sampler blocks - Here is Chimneys and Cornerstones:


And I managed to botch the Dutchman's puzzle on the first effort:


I mean, look at those points. No saving them.

I redid it, using paper piecing.


See the difference?


I was going to try to save the original but it would have taken longer to frog stitch it and redo it than it would to just start over. Plus, with this size block, I wasn't too worried about the fabric waste.

Here is the whole group, to date:


My laptop computer crashed earlier this week and I lost everything but my pictures (which I'd backed up). Reinstalling everything has kept me busy when I would rather have been quilting or blogging... I spent five hours on the telephone with India. They were very nice and spoke perfect English so I can't complain about that.

I have had dogs all my life but NONE of them love their toys the way our Samoyeds do. Here is a picture of the girls where primarily Pearl had gathered her favorites.



This one is just damn creepy. If it were alive, I'd kill it.



Mind you, this is only about half of her babies. Most look like roadkill.

Check out this fox.







And their beloved Coon.






The Bunny is a longtime favorite but has lately been neglected due to Mr. Fox.



Pearl "won" this deer at a party we went to in March. It was the prize for being the youngest at the party.




She loves that thing.

Evelyn is pretty fond of Mr. Dragon.




Evelyn has been a complete sweetie, today. She has cuddled and stayed close. She may have picked up on my thoughtful mood due to 911. Both girls have been darling.













But let me say this about that - I think for the first anniversary since 911 that I am all but recovered. And it feels good.