April Goal Update

Before I go over my yearly goal progress I have great news! Grandma Rosie is here! She put off her move toTopeka until they started getting Covid cases in SW Kansas. Once the Virus was there as well, she thought she could hide out here just as well as hiding out down there. The boys and I are so happy to have her here. She has already been busy in the yard. My yard has lots of project for anyone that likes projects. That was a bright spot to our days that all seemed to blend together. 

2020 Goals 

Read 12 Books: 4/12 

This month the boys and I read "The One and Only Ivan" by K.A. Applegate. We read the first half of the book taking turns reading but I ended it by reading to them. It was a great youth chapter book. Very heartfelt and all three of us couldn't wait to see how it ended. 

Many thanks to Ms. Foster for putting the copies into a ziplock and letting us pick them up. It was a great read! 

Knit 4 Things (and no new yarn!): 2.5/4 

Still working on my Mielie vest. It has been a good project for my multiple zoom meetings. I'm getting ready to start my third ball of yarn. I may need to cast on something in the middle of this. I'm getting tired of the blue!  


Make 2 Quilts : I have started Quilt #1

So much progress on Quilt #1 this month. All of the T-Shirts have been cut and bordered. (I have TWO 4-H t-shirts left to wear.) I have all of the rows of T-Shirts sewn together. I've also made the four corner pieces that will be a part of the border. I'm using the fronts of shirts that had a little chest logo. 

This project has been the best distraction! All I have left to do is put on the borders. This two quilt goal was a stretch goal but thanks to our Stay at Home order I may get it done! 

Run 600 Miles: 197

I got 35 miles this month. That is not 50, the amount I need every month to get to 600 for the year. The good news is I have been getting more than 50 the last couple of months so I didn't blow my yearly goal with this month. Why did I fall off of running so hard? Change of daily routine, losing the gym, my half being turned into a virtual race. These all played a little part of my head losing the stay motivated game. None of these things are changing for May, so I will just have to get mentally tougher or chuck this goal. I'm not ready to do that yet. We will circle  back in a month! 

I didn't run my virtual half, thank goodness the race people let me switch to the virtual 5K. At least I will get my shirt from the inaugural Top City 5K/Half Marathon race. :-) 

Save 2,000 Dollars: $2465

I saved 1500 this month. Not going to lie that was stimulus money. However, I'm lucky enough to still be working and getting a paycheck. So that money went directly to savings. It is more important than ever to have a savings account and I hope I don't have to dip into it. 

5 House Projects: Nothing off the list in April. But I have the tree removal in the budget for May. So hopefully that will be done soon! I have been putting my new stove and four of it's burners to good use this month! So happy to have it! 

Put in a ceiling light in living room
Put in a ceiling light in my bedroom office
Get a new stove: Done Feb
Remove a scraggly tree
Get my Garage door working

One of the four corner pieces I made for the border!

Quilt top just minus the border! 

Four corners

I lowered my goal from 60 to 35 when I realized I was having head struggles.
I'm glad I did because just finished this morning! 

Daryl is Making LONG term plans

It's funny that as soon as I think, "maybe all my funny kids stories are done," one of my boys comes through. To prepare you for this story sometimes the boys sleep in my bed. I have a queen size bed with lots of pillows and it seems to be preferable to their beds. During Christmas break I told them we all three don't fit, I was getting kicked to the couch in the middle of the night. So they have worked out their own rotation of whose turn it is for the nice bed. AKA my bed!

So, Sunday night I'm setting my alarm and settling in for the night. That is when Daryl tells me something that I'm not sure how long he has been planning.

Daryl "Mom when you die can I have this Hanston Quilt?"
Me "Ummmm I guess, why do you want it?"
Daryl "I like small towns and I like Hanston."
Me "Ok, that's fine with me."
Daryl "Then Alex can have your 4-H quilt that you are making. Because if I get a quilt he should get a quilt."
Me "That's good thinking buddy."

That kid! Looks like I don't have to go into too many details in my will. Daryl is already sorting it all out! On another note, I better get my 4-H quilt done quickly. Now that it is Alex's inheritance!

Daryl cuddling Purl

Fluffy Horse is who Alex prefers to cuddle! 

I'm Pretty Sure It's Sunday

This last week of stay at home work/school/everything was probably my least productive. The weather was icky, the boys had their moments and my knees were achy. The boys and I stayed home, took Purl for reluctant walks and got our work done. I did get some knitting done, that doesn't hurt my knees! I also made three quilt blocks today, and that means I only have three left. I'm playing chicken with my interfacing right now so I'm hoping that it lasts for three more shirts!  

We finally had some excitement yesterday when our robin eggs hatched! Daryl and I were home at the time so we sent a picture to Alex right away. He was so excited! So the last thing I am waiting for is Alex's front tooth to fall out. That might be the only blog worthy news coming from Meerpohl Manor during quarantine! 

Next week I will try to be more motivated. 

Our eggs hatched! We have enjoyed sitting outside this weekend
and watching them get fed. 

Only three blocks bordered in green left! 

Level Face Mask: Achieved

After watching many many Youtube videos I finally decided to make the face mask featured in this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FB--BOyTiU by Erica Arndt. It is a pleated pattern with three layers of fabric. The tutorial was easy to follow and it only took me about 10 minutes to make one. I have one made for me and one for a smaller child than Alex. I cut the child's size but I forgot how big his head is. So, I will try again to make his tomorrow. Then one for Daryl! 

I have read up on how to wear them. Don't touch the front of your mask and once you take it off it has to be washed and dried. I am now ready for Dillons and the wine store! 

Going to wear my bug dress when I wear my bug mask! 

Alex picked his own fabric, look at his poor ear! His next one will be bigger.

Quilt #1 Progress

When I had the idea for this quilt I didn't have a plan. I just knew after 7.5 years working as the Shawnee County 4-H Agent I had a LOT of 4-H T-Shirts. I cut them out, without a plan. I put a 2 inch border on them, without a plan. And I started laying them out on the floor until I was happy.

When I layed out the blocks I had I realized two things. First, I don't know how big a queen size quilt should  be. Quick Google search told me 92 inches by 96 inches! Second, I'm going to need more T-Shirts. Last week I did 3 blocks most days, there were a couple of days I didn't do any.

By the weekend I realized my original 18 shirts was not enough. So I went thru the shirts I am currently wearing and cleared them out! I only have one 4-H t-shirt left and I have 24 T-shirt blocks to work with!

This week I have to start sewing together the rows and do the border.  In the middle of that I'm going to try and sew my first face mask. I don't have any elastic the right size, so I guess  I will be doing ties.

I have been putting that off because sewing on my quilt makes me so happy. I remember all the camps and conferences I have been able to go to with my 4-H'ers. Thinking of sewing for my new reality doesn't elicit joy. But, I have these skills and I can take care of my own family with masks. The CDC changed their recommendation about wearing masks in public places. So, I will get it done.

But first look at my quilt, isn't she pretty?!

It's long enough....the borders will be on the Wide side. 

The Many ears of Purl! 

My last four that I had to dig out of my dresser.