August 31 Block

Another uneventful day at work, but betting it won't hold tomorrow.  It's the day before classes begin, so I'm expecting a fair number of panicked students.  And it's the first Badger home football game (dictated by television coverage).  They've requested that we be off campus no later than 4:00.  I'm planning on leaving at 3:00 before the buses are completely thrown off schedule by 70,000 Badger fans.

Since it's the last day of August (yikes!) I had to make two squares to account for the one extra block per month.... Mary

August 30 Block

No floods, no pestilence, and surprisingly few students today.  It was raining on the way home though, so no dragonflies either.... Mary

August 29 Block

Today at work was just awful.  There was a flood from a broken hose in a lab on the third floor.  We had water damage all the way to the basement.  One unfortunate lab on the second floor had serious equipment damage.  Then there were lots of students pleading and even demanding that we let them into one course or another.  I've told the instructors to give my email address to anyone who is seeking a seat.  They have enough to worry about getting ready to teach without having to field dozens of emails. 

Since it was a dreadful, awful, no good day, I decided to invoke Jake's rule that I can do one-fabric blocks without any sewing or anything.  It was inspired by the lovely dragonfly I saw on the way home.... M

August 28 Block

Didn't quite get as much done on the cleaning today as I'd hoped.  The entry way did get cleaned, and the dining room table is cleared of boxes of family photos.  (Those were moved to the living room, so who knows where we'll move them from there.)  But midday we did go to an ice cream social at Grandpa's retirement community.  Rick's sister, Katie, and her family were there as well so it was great to see them.  Eileen even got Grandpa to dance with her.  So sweet!

And there was a wonderful treat out in my flower garden this morning.  The heirloom morning glories that I had planted under a trellis in a pot last year have self-seeded this year, and they bloomed today.  There were two flowers on the vines in the pot, but there was also a tiny one that had self-seeded into the rocks under the trellis.... Mary

August 27 Block

For the past six months we've been living in reaction mode.  Most weeks we've been lucky if we managed to just keep everyone fed and showing up more or less on time for the most critical events.  In the process our house has become something of a disaster zone.  Add to that bringing in a lifetime of family photos and memorabilia, and it a pretty large mess.  So today I decided something finally has to be done.  I spent the entire day cleaning the kitchen from top to bottom.  It wasn't exactly a day in the studio, but it sure feels good to have one room of our house really ship shape.  Tomorrow it's the front entrance and the dining room.... Mary

August 26 Block

For perfectly legitimate reasons Anne and I started our Friday errands at 7:30 instead of our usual 5:00.  We were both exhausted and just plain done by then end.  But we don't have to errands on the weekend.... Mary

August 25 Block

Rather grim day today.  This was the first payday with the new deductions for health care and pensions.  For family coverage it's a average of $130 more per month, plus the 10% deduction for pension.  No doubt a full professor can take this kind of hit without much damage.  I'm fortunate that my partner, Rick, is employed.  My fear is that single parents at the low end of the pay scale will have to drop their health coverage in favor of buying food.... Mary

August 24 Block

Work today felt sort of like this block, splintered and wacky.... Mary

August 23 Block

Stormy start to the day with big thunder boomers, but sunshine later then clouds again.... Mary

August 22 Block

Eileen has two cats, Duvy and Monster, who live in the lower level of our house, as opposed to Mittens who is 18 years old, crotchety, and not likely to share her domain on the top floor.  Monster had a very hard start in life having been abandoned and left for dead as a tiny, tiny kitten down in New Mexico.  Eileen named him Monster to give him something to live up to. 

Monster, it turned out, is an odd eyed (one blue/one amber) Turkish angora.  He has no undercoat so all his long, white fur is as soft and fluffy as milkweed down.  He was so tiny when he arrived in Eileen's life, he could completely fit, tail and all, in her shoe.  After he was weaned from the eyedropper and kitten milk, Duvy had to stand over Monster at the food dish and stick his face into the dish until he got it that he was supposed to eat the food just like Duvy did.

Now Monster is very long (see the second picture of him stretching out to get his stomach scratched.  He only stops moving long enough to get tummy rubs or to collapse for a nap when he is completely worn out.  No one is ever as glad to see you when you open the door as he is.  So this block is dedicated to the snow white fluff ball that is Monster.  I'm thinking the beading will need to be lots of white fringe.... Mary

August 21 Block

The four patch and the nine patch are classic blocks, the nine patch being one of my favorites.  I wondered what a seven patch would look like.  Here's my attempt.... Mary

August 20 Block

Another lovely summer day.  Some rain at the start and finish, but blue skies and sunshine in between....  Mary

August 19 Block

I took today off, so JK and I met for coffee at Cafe Zoma.  We sat outside in the shade and talked and talked.  What a wonderful morning....  Mary

August 18 Block

Today is Robert Redford's birthday.  He is 75 years old, which makes him just 8 years younger than my mother.  That's just not possible.  He's way younger than that, at least on the silver screen.... Mary

August 17 Block

After work I had to go to the Co-op because I'd run out of oranges for my lunch, and the week's not over.  Without a doubt, the Co-op has the best produce in town.  The beautiful array of fruits and veggies with their gorgeous colors is always so lovely when you walk through the doors.... Mary

August 16 Block

Have no idea why I like this blue floral fabric.  It's pretty much opposite of anything else I like, but I like it I do....  Mary

August 15 Block

Someone at work today asked me how my weekend was.  I thought about it for a moment and realized I'd had a very calm and relaxing weekend.  I mentioned this to Anne, and she pointed out that it was the first weekend in six weeks or more that we weren't in crisis mode.  It was kind of nice.  I could get used to this.... Mary

August 14 Block

It was a perfect summer day.  It rained in the morning and watered everything, then got sunny with a high of 77 degrees.

The morning glory vine I planted under our front light is finally starting to flower.  It probably doesn't get enough sunlight to really kick in the blossoms.  It's only getting flower buds on the side that gets hit by the morning sun, the other side is shaded all day by a tree.  The blue is just glorious, hence the name, morning glory!  Mary

August 13 Block

JK and I had our weekly quilt guild meeting today, counting down to the Wisconsin Quilt Expo for our annual WSQG* meeting.  If you haven't already gotten your tickets, order them today.  It's a wonderful show with amazing quilts.... Mary

* World's Smallest Quilt Guild

August 12 Block

It's Friday night.  As soon as I post, I'm off to bed early, and I don't have to set an alarm!   Mary

August 11 Block

Tomorrow is Friday, and I should have the last of the seats assigned in our three big courses.  From there it's just a matter of saying no as politely as I can over and over again for the next month....  Mary

August 10 Block

Our two and half year old refrigerator is on the fritz.  Thanks to my Consumer Reports reading daughter, Anne, we purchased the five year extended warranty.  The service guy will be calling me in the morning to set up an appointment to come fix the thing....  Mary

August 9 Block

Long day back at work with lots of students wanting to get into already full courses.  It will only get worse until the first week of classes in September.... Mary

August 8 Block

Took Grandpa to appointments at the VA hospital today.  Every single person we dealt with was just wonderful.  We've done two days of multiple appointments, and so far I'm very impressed with the care he's received.  And according to Grandpa the coffee is really good, too.... Mary

August 7 Block

This little leaf applique is from an estate sale.  I really like the shape of the leaves and their jaunty little angle.... Mary

August 6 Block

Anne and I went down to Chicago and cleaned out the storage unit for Grandpa.  Lots into the dumpster and recycling, but lots of treasures brought home as well....  Mary

August 5 Block

It's Friday, and I have Monday off, too.  I'm going to bed very early tonight to start the weekend off right....  Mary

August 4 Block

Don't have much to say.  Just tired and happy tomorrow is Friday.... Mary

August 3 Block

Anne and I spent four and half hours this afternoon doing appointments with Grandpa.  He was a total trooper.  Then we went to Culver's for butter burgers and frozen custard.  We earned it.... Mary

August 2 Block

An evening of paperwork and organizing for Grandpa.... Mary

August 1 Block

We moved furniture around in Grandpa's apartment tonight, so I'm invoking JK's single piece of fabric rule for today's block.  Now his desk is in front of a north facing window with all that lovely natural light falling on his drawing space.  Heaven....  Mary