A Little Get-Away

With over a week of seeing this

We were blessed to be able to see this!

Since J retired, we've traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina the last of February so he can play with a group of fellow retirees.  I don't play golf with the guys but I do enjoy spending time walking on the beach, slow stitching, crocheting and genealogy work on the computer.  

It was interesting remembering our visit last year.  We were starting to hear about a new virus that was taking hold in China and elsewhere.  We were planning a big trip, a Baltic Cruise actually in June, and began wondering if that would happen.  Remember, about this time last year, cruise ships were being hit hard by this new disease and passengers were holed up in their rooms on board.  Awful!  

We visited here at MB for a week last year and then traveled to Florida.  We were able to watch a few games of our beloved Cardinals at Spring Training.  I think we were some of the lucky few who were able to do so because Spring Training was closed down soon after that week.

Things were different at the Beach this year; people have learned to wear masks in public and social distance.  Most everyone has been very respectful of the changes and with the development and distribution of the vaccines, I think we all see the "light at the end of the tunnel!"

In the past, we've enjoyed eating out at our favorite places; this year was a little different.  We didn't feel completely comfortable dining in so we  ordered carry out most evenings.  I anticipated this so decided to make the best of it!  I brought two different sets of table linens to dress up our dining experience in the room 

Isn't this romantic and quaint?!  I even brought some battery-powered candles....that didn't quite fit in the holders.  We had several laughs about that when one would fall over unexpectedly!  

One evening we decided to give outside dining a try and oh, were we rewarded deliciously!!  Our favorite restaurant in the area is Drunken Jack's at Murrells Inlet.  Well, you can see how happy J was with his meal!

It was oysters and trigger fish.  Very daring!

I enjoyed a delicious she-crab soup and salad.  My favorites!

I have to add these beautiful beach photos to save on the blog.  I like using my blog as a scrapbook.  Do you do that, too?  I hope you enjoy these and hope they bring you a little smile!

Sunrises

Walks Along the Beach

Evening Views

Our hotel balcony faced east so we had no sunsets 

but the evening sky was very pretty.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope your week was lovely, too!

                Zenda

Keeping Busy and Staying Warm

 Oooo!  I hope it's warm where you are because here in Missouri it is FRIGID!  The temperature, as I type, is 1 F and it's 4:00 in the afternoon.  We've received a notice from our local information service that we may get 6-9 inches of snow tonight!  I sure hope they're wrong.  It's been very cold all week and this upcoming week sounds like more of the same. 

Sewing was on the agenda this past week.  I was able to get the large quilt top finished and I'm very happy with it!  J agreed it looks like summer.  Maybe we're just wishing but I'm pleased it's completed to this stage.

The blue and white floral fabric make a nice border, don't you think?  

The leftover half square triangles made a little bonus quilt.  How fun is this?!

Such a simple pattern makes a big statement!  I'll be sandwiching it this week, hoping to quilt it next week.  We are planning a little get away and I'd like to have a little handwork to keep me busy while J plays golf.  I'm using up batting and backing fabric I have in my stash so may have to do a little piecing together to get the right sizes.  The pandemic is forcing enabling me to use up things I've had stored awhile!  

Another little project I've enjoyed working on this winter is this little lap blanket.  More goodies from my YARN stash.  (Yes, I've got lots of different stashes!  I bet you do, too.). This will be donated to a local VA home.  I'm ready to finish it up by repeating the first edge.  I think I have enough yarn to make another one in shades of gray.  It will be in a ripple stitch.

If your a regular reader, you know I've also been working on another colonial dress and scanning my genealogy files.  Well, nothing to report on the dress.  (and I'm still looking for that lace!) The file scanning came to halt as most of my files, which were being stored on a jump drive rather 'disappeared.'  I was so disappointed and frustrated!  A call to the Apple help center didn't fix the problem but the young lady was very nice and did help me update my system, thinking that would solve the problem.  Do any of you know what this icon means or how to 'open' it? 

I have a MacBook Pro and am using a standard jump drive from Amazon.

This is the message I receive when clicking on the icon.  Reads like "Greek" to me!

Have you had a similar experience?  I purchased a different jump drive and have started saving my scanned images as jpegs, instead of pdfs.  We'll see if either of these work.  I'm open to any suggestions, though!

In the meantime, I've got lots to keep me happily occupied these last weeks of winter.  Surely, things will warm up in a month's time!  Oh, and Little Jack comes to visit tomorrow!  Mondays are our days!  He sure makes our hearts happy!  Here he is helping Mommy work from home.  LOL!  I know I'm partial, but isn't he cute?!?!?

Stay warm and safe everyone! And those of you in the warmer climates, ENJOY your beautiful weather!    Happy week!

                                                                                Zenda

A Busy Week But Nothing Really Accomplished

Have you ever had weeks like that?  I'm in the middle of several projects with nothing really finished.  Progress is being made, though, so I feel good.  I love being busy!

Here's what I've been up to -

First, the second colonial dress is cut out!  I made a different one last month as a trial run.  You can read about that here.

There were several alterations I plan to make on the new dress and one is to make the bodice a little longer.  I added a little extra length as I cut this one out.  Oh, and I'm still looking for that lovely lace to add to the sleeves.  ;)

The second project is a quilt for myself.  For several years, my DAR group has worked together to make Quilts of Valor to donate to local veterans.  I've always admired the patchwork of red, white and blue so when I saw this pattern, the Disappearing Shoo Fly, last summer I fell in love.  The fabric has been in my stash since then and, after last week, all 30 blocks are completed!  This was an easy, fast and fun project.  I hope to get the blocks set together this week.  I'm planning on a dark blue border. This should look pretty at the end of our white bedspread.

Here is what I hope it looks like when finished.  Doesn't it look summery?!

Missouri Star Quilt Company

You can click on this link to watch the video from Missouri Star Quilt Company.

There is even a Bonus project from the leftover half-square triangles!  I'll be making a Red, White and Blue baby quilt to add to a silent auction basket this summer!

The final project of my week has been digitizing ALL of my paper genealogy files.  I've enjoyed delving into my family history for years and have lots of documents such as marriage licenses and bonds, tax records, birth and death records, probate and will records and even some photos.  

                     

It will be so nice to have this 'organized mess' on a jump drive that I can on genealogy adventures!  I'll probably also make a copy to keep in a safe place.

Finally, I have to share what my husband brought home today!!!  What a wonderful surprise!!  The card asks "Be My Valentine?"  

Yes!!!  I'll ALWAYS be his Valentine! 

Well, not much is finished but I'll keep you posted.  These projects are great ways to stay busy on cold wintry days.  What have you been up to lately?

I'm wishing you a very happy Valentine's Day!  

Source

                                                        Zenda

Another Thing Ticked Off the List

 I don't know about you but since I've been stuck at home during the pandemic, I have started writing out some goals for the week, the month and even part of the year.  It's oddly satisfying the mark off things as they are accomplished.  As I look at the big picture, I feel pretty happy that I've been able to complete some things I've put off for so long. 

I'm a member of a women's service genealogical society, the Daughters of the American Revolution.  We enjoy learning about history, sharing genealogy tips and tricks and serving our communities and our country in the areas for education, patriotism and historic preservation.  (Read more about our group HERE.)  Sometimes we participate in festivals, parades and other community events and many of our chapter members have Colonial dresses they enjoy wearing.  Making one or two has been on my "List of Many Things to Do" for sometime but I never took the time to make one.  I had, of course, purchased a pattern several years ago and even found some lovely fabric.  I actually found two different pieces, one is this lovely pastel!  It really made my heart swoon when I saw it!  

I must have fancy taste because the price was rather expensive.  I decided to go for it though....after all I had waited so long.  As a realist, I knew my first attempt at sewing a dress in a VERY long time would not be without a lot of trouble so I also purchased another piece of fabric that was much cheaper as my 'trial dress.'   It is a medium blue with tiny white flowers.  

Yes, this project has been at least two years in the making.  Well, this January I decided I had run out of excuses and should begin.  I've worked on it, off and on the last week and a half and finally have it finished except for the detail work.  It is not historically correct. (note the back zipper) It's just to have fun dressing up and play acting.  Sorry I don't have a sewing form to display it properly.  

A lovely lace was purchased at the same time as the fabric that will be used on the sleeves.  Unfortunately, it needs to be located!  (Yet another project!)

White netting is needed for the daytime neckline.  I've added this light gray as it is all I have on hand.  I will add a white mobcap, shawl and underskirt to complete the outfit.  I'll get those as soon as I feel comfortable shopping in-store again.

Here is the pattern and view of my dress.

As expected, there was a bit of a learning curve but I learned a lot and am pretty happy with my first attempt.  I plan to start the other dress next month.  I'd better go ahead and make it before I forget what alterations I made!  Ha!  

Maybe by that time I'll have found the lace, too!  

Our next outdoor DAR event is in March as a neighboring town celebrates it 200th anniversary.  Missouri is also celebrating it's 200th anniversary this year and our great nation's 250th birthday will be in just five years!  2026!  Do you remember when we celebrated the American Bicentennial?  Could that really be 45 years ago?!?  I'm hoping I'll get a lot of use from these dresses.  

Thanks for stopping by today!  Tell me what projects you've worked on during your time at home this past year?  It's fun to share and celebrate our accomplishments!

Hope you are staying well!

Zenda