Saturday, February 29, 2020

Melting Snow and a Quilt Finished

Although it's a fact that we often get more inches of snow in the month of March than in any of our other winter months, a lot of melting can go on during these still-winter months.

Matter of fact, the melting has become quite apparent already.

Even though we haven't seen the thermometer show temps much above freezing with any frequency yet, we have had days when the sunshine seems to be gaining in strength.  The walkway off our deck has often needed to be shoveled clear even on days when no snow has fallen because of the wind blowing the snow mounded up beside it.  Said blowing snow often covering the walkways with a 6" deep cover.


Now it's quite easy to see the way the snow banks are starting to melt.  (No, we don't have to use this hand pump mounted over our well to get our daily supply of water, but it's there in case we ever need it.)

We had a low over night of 3°, but today's predicted high is 31°, tomorrow's 40°, then 32°, 37° and 38° for the following days of the coming week.  Temps above freezing indicate spring is on its (albeit often slow) way to us.


I finally figured out how to get (scrounge together) enough matching fabric for the binding on my new spring shower curtain.  Sometimes I just have to think (and think and think) about a little problem for a while before a solution becomes apparent.

The basic pattern (with a little finagling to get the size I needed) is from a book by Evelyn Sloppy entitled, "Sew One and You're Done - Making a Quilt from a Single Block."


In the past, I've always put buttonholes across the top of my quilted shower curtains for attachment of the shower rod rings.  For the past two curtains now, I've used these handy-dandy grommets which I think look better and certainly take a lot less time to add.

I may be slow (r-e-a-l-l-y  s-l-o-w) but eventually come up with a solution whether it be not enough readily available fabric for completing a quilting project or easier, quicker and classier finishes!

11 comments:

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

Melting is good. Those grommets are also a good idea! Have a good weekend, Mama Pea! -Jenn

Goatldi said...

That is what I call a “duh” moment. Or as my Mama would say “if it was a snake it would of bit you!”

“Better late than never”. Running and ducking. 😂

Sue said...

We have a hand pump too, great to have , just in case.
your quilt is so lovely, the colors are so beautiful.
have a great day,
Sue

Lynne said...

What a great job on the shower curtain. Gromments are a good idea. I guess I'm behind the times too! I've never made a shower curtain. What fun!! How are the socks coming along ? The weather here has been strange to. Right now we are having a cold spell. take care!

wisps of words said...

A couple of posts...!!! I was beginning to worry about you. Since you seemed to be MIA in "Pretty Blog Land"....

Yes, the sun can melt, on the south side.

And if you have the right snow, it will blow. Luckily we don't, as we have had wind.... A wind that simply makes a tangle of hair! lol And goes right through you. Brrrrrrrr.....

Granny Sue said...

I love those colors--yellow is my favorite color, with red and green right behind.

I am so amazed at your winter weather. Winter has been very touch-and-go here, with no below zero nights and the lowest temperature I can remember was about 12F, I think. Usually we have at least a week or two of really cold weather, but not this year. The birds and plants are acting like Spring is just around the corner.

Susan said...

That will sure brighten up your bathroom - I love those colors! The ice is slowly melting here, although my front pathway and deck are usually the last to go. I am so ready for spring!

Nancy In Boise said...

Looks great! Spring is here too although a little bit warmer almost 62° this week! Any problem solving skills on projects is always a really great skill set

Mama Pea said...

Jenn - We're still (now on Tuesday, the 3rd) in melting mode around here. Could we actually be going to have an early spring this year?

Goatldi - Ha, I grew up with "if it was a snake it would have bit you" too! Why is it we sometimes have to wait (and wait and wait) until a good solution whops us upside the head?

Sue - Thanks for the nice words about my quilt. In the summer, my husband uses the hand pump to get buckets of water for the poultry. He feels it keeps it in shape and in working order. Doesn't hurt the exercise he gets, as it pumps hard!

Lynne - Always have a pair of socks on the needles! Right now it's a soft pair (sooo nice!) in shades of blue for my daughter.

wisps of words - Yep, those "spring" winds are almost always cold. And damp, most of the time, too. Remember when women used to wear babushkas to keep their carefully coiffed hair in place in the wind?

Granny Sue - We are fellow yellow lovers! We have a lot of pine paneling in our house, but all places where there is dry wall, I painted yellow so it would always look cheerful!

Susan - Nope, not ready for spring here yet. I still want to be snow bound. Ha! With today's vehicles with 4-wheel drive and snow plows mounted on most every truck, what's the chance of that?

Nancy - You're so much warmer than we are on a regular basis. Sometimes my solutions to problems don't come out so pretty good . . . but even failures teach us something! ;o)

Andrea Charles said...

Amazing !! Yes, melting is taking place and can see the pathway, hope warmth will wrap you and you can feel the happiness. Life during winter is tough still we make up through. The spring shower curtain looks so cool with yellow bright color reminding spring is near. Have a Good Day😊

VasanthMusicCoimbatore said...

It's surprising how I'm getting to read all these blogs about snow and winter. Especially when we in India are having unbearably hot summers. The sun comes blazing out at 7 in the morning. Whew!!