Clearly, Don’s a hit. He’s a charmer, my guy, and he’s a good writer. Part 2 is coming, but he had to go into the city yesterday and didn’t get back until late, leaving no time to compose his post. But take heart: Part 2 will most likely be on Sunday, as A Favorite Thing is always scheduled on Saturday. I’m so glad you’re enjoying his take on Prague and filming in Prague. Wait until he reads your comments! This all might go to his head. There will be no living with him.
Don is the type of guy that everyone loves. Including this girl:
Waiting for Dad to get up. Is it him? Oh, please let it be him! Sounds like the old Vicki Carr song – do you remember it? “Let it please be him, oh dear God, it must be him, it must be him…” A little over the top, Vicki; you might want to think about therapy. Nevertheless, I remember it vividly.
The last couple of days here have been rainy and gray. Today? More rain. April showers are alive and well here in the Northeast. But I won’t complain – at least it’s not snow. I clipped a few branches off of the forsythia bushes that are in our woods and brought them inside to force a cheery yellow bloom.
We need some flowers around here.
I’m leaving in less than a week and have to start making lists of what I need to pack. Thank goodness we can get there by car and I don’t have to worry about packing and shipping boxes. I get excited about the work, but sad about leaving my family. There’s always a push-pull nature to our kind of work, which often involves going out of town for extended periods of time. This summer will be especially tricky. I get back at the end of May. In June, Don leaves for 5 weeks in Williamstown, MA. He returns at the end of July and will be home for one day when I take off for Hartford again for 6 weeks. I’m glad we’re both getting some work and I’m certainly glad that someone will always be here with Scout, but it ain’t easy.
I sewed all the binding on yesterday. Bulky queen sized quilt in my little sewing space = a pain in the tush. It took some intricate maneuvering and more than a few curse words. But I did it! Now I’m hand sewing the binding to the back of the quilt.
Then it’s done! Ta da!
Happy Friday.
No forsythia here yet. We’ve had an awful week of rain, gray, drear, very cool temps– yuck! You and Don are sure busy bees lately! Good for you!
I want it to be warmer out and to stay that way, Diane!
Scout looks so happy watching for her Daddy. :-). I did enjoy part 1 and look forward to the “rest of the story” from Don. I can’t imagine how hard it will be to be so far away from each other so much. But, I am glad that you both have work.
Blessings,
Betsy
We are too, Betsy.
You need to give yourself a pat on the back, Cllaudia, for how rapidly you made that quilt. Can’t wait to see the finished product. I’m so proud of you!
That picture os Scout is precious. And LOL about that song. Yes, I remember it, and it was over the top in a Country-Western kind of way. Funny!
We enjoyed Don, but don’t leave yourself out of that equation. We enjoy you, too!
XO,
Sheila
Well, it isn’t all that rapid. I pieced it over three years ago in San Diego. Then it sat around for over 2 1/2 years. But the rest of it has gone fairly quickly. Much easier to work on it when Don’s away – I pulled it out every evening in front of the television.
You certainly did finish that quilt in record time. And the forsythia is so beautiful. I keep meaning to buy a shrub and then forgetting until the spring the next year.
Jen
I do that a lot, too, Jen.
Lovely knowing Don will regale us with more of Prague over this weekend – can’t wait!
That quilt is beautiful.
Forsythia – such a bright harbinger of Spring – short-lived though, our neighborhood shrubs are now just green after these hot days, the yellow just a memory. But, not complaining, everywhere is gorgeous today after a few showers last night, even the pollen has settled a bit…..and the cars got a free wash this morning!
See ya tomorrow for a Favorite Thing.
Hugs – Mary
You’re ahead of us in terms of blooms, Mary.
Can’t believe you are almost done with the quilt! You are a fast worker. Really enjoyed Don’s post yesterday…now I’ve got something to look forward to on Sunday! ;)
Yay!
Do you like hand sewing? I do a lot. I find it relaxing. Can’t wait to see your finished quilt on your bed. Happy weekend with lots of sunshine. Regula
I do, but I don’t do it very often, so it takes me a while to get a rhythm going.
I am just coveting that quilt! Our forsythia is just starting to announce it’s arrival.
We drove just a bit south of our house today and the forsythia are in bloom there.
You really are going to be apart the next few months, but I know when you freelance getting the work is wonderful. Hope dad comes down soon for Scout.
Hugs,
Laura
Work is good. Being apart? Not so good.
The Forsythias look lovely..I think I will bring some in from my bush to enjoy..The evening before last we had severe storms..down came another tree across our driveway and took the power line with it..we were stuck in the house as there were live wires lying outside near our vehicles..but we couldn’t have gotten out of the driveway anyhow..it was about 2:30 AM when they got here..they had to cut up the tree to get down the driveway to the pole to restore our power..Not a pleasant night at all..Earlier in the afternoon it was hail coming down..I am all for April showers but this was a little too much..lol..I also look forward to Part 2 with Don..Hugs!
Oh, I am so sorry Nancy! That kind of storm can be so destructive. I’m just glad you’re okay!
Claudia, You have done a BEAUTIFUL job on your quilt! I think a lot of people are taking shortcuts,with the binding. Which is an alternate and simpler way of doing things. But I of course am a purist. You did a Wonderful job right down to the making and hand stitching of the binding. -Judy A-
I don’t know any other way to do it, Judy and it just seems to be the right way to do it!
The quilt is lovely. I would hate being gone so much, I like my things and I like to be around my animals so much; I am the worst stay-at-home ever. I thought I was the only one who remembered Vicki Carr and the song… wow… that was early 70’s at least!
I am a homebody and a nester so it IS hard for me to be gone so much. But it’s work and I have to grab those opportunities when they come.
I envy you your forsythia. It is so dry here that my lilacs bloomed and dried in less than 4 days. If you have a few extra I will take some of your rain storms.
While it is challenging to be gone from home so often it is wonderful that the two of you can continue to do the things you love and have a sweet oasis to come home to. Will Scout go with you this summer or will she stay home with Don?
I love to go traveling about, but the best part is coming home.
Scout will stay home with Don. If some job comes up that he has to take and involves being out of town, he’ll bring Scout to me in Hartford.
That song reminds me of the movie “Moonstruck”, when Olivia Dukakis says: “Now he’ll play that damn Vicki Carr record and he won’t touch me when he comes to bed.” I always thought that song was a bit overwrought.
The forsythia are gorgeous. More snow here today, but now the sun is shining. April in Alaska.
That scene in Moonstruck is so funny, Paula! Thanks for reminding me of it.
You are both so lucky you have work you love so the time away is not as hard! Still difficult, but nice ‘homecomings’ I would imagine! Scout is such a sweetie and I can see that she does love her daddy!
hugs,
linda
Push – pull. I do love it. But I wish I could do it and be home at the same time!
Hi Claudia
I had to play a little catch up and read 7 posts! Wow I missed a lot!
So glad that Don’s home safe and sound!
Leann
You are a talented seamstress! I need to make some slipcovers, but A) Ive never tackled anything that major, and B) I have a dinky little sewing machine. So, Im thoroughly impressed with you wrestling with the quilt.
We also have a dog that follows my husband everywhere!
To me, forsythia is a sure sign of Spring. I would love to have it all across my back fence if it wasn’t so expensive. Love the pop of that bright and brilliant yellow.
Judy
I saw that Don had written a post when I quickly looked at my blog roll and now will go back and read it. I love your quilt, Claudia! I remember recovering a quilt many moons ago and what a struggle it was so I can only imagine what it must be like to make one! Work is good, busy is good, but sometimes it’s hard too. Ann
AND… the Forsythia was one of the first signs of spring when I was growing up in Toronto, after the crocuses. My mother would cut the branches and bring them in too. Ann
I just scrolled through and caught up on your last week’s worth of posts. Your Don is quite wonderful at painting visual pictures with words. You MUST be sure to tell us when his show is scheduled to air.
Love Forsythia!! we always hang our Easter Eggs on the branches!!
It’s good you’re driving, Claudia, so you can bring all your creature comforts. I forced forsythia, too, this year and it was so cheering to have it in the house while it was still so cold outside. Yay! you finished the binding! I hope sewing it on wont’ be as difficult on your fingers as the quilting.