Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday, I’m still not sure how it gets here so fast every week. There is only one word needed for the weather, HOT. That about sums it up. I’m not a real lover of the heat. That said I spent yesterday morning moving about a cord of wood from my yard and stacking it in the neighbors woodshed. I’m going to need some more as he has purchased most of what I had stacked up on the hill. I’m sure I can find some more to make a new pile but probably not until it cools off a little bit. This stretch can’t last too long. I could not even imagine why anyone would live where it was this warm all the time. Another reason why you can keep Florida. I couldn’t imagine shoveling snow in the weather.

The flowers etc. are trying to stay ahead of the hot weather and the wind and are doing ok. I see no new flowers on this tomato but if these ever ripen there will be a couple salad’s worth here.

The cucumber trellis may need to be extended tomorrow if it’s not too hot, they are growing tall. I hung baskets on the ends of the fence, here is our view up the driveway. 

I have been buying peas in various locations around the area and they have been quite good. Can’t wait for the beans and the blueberries. But maybe that is rushing the season. Thursday comes too damn fast as it is, I guess I don’t want to rush things too bad.

Erin came to visit today and we set out under the awning for a bit but it was too warm for me. Way to hot to kayak. So I went up in the studio.

In the studio I have finished #32 for 2026. This one was made for the Diamond Rects class I taught. I used four of them in each block then used them as an interesting inner border. I thought it made for an interesting top. 

2026-32

#33 for 2026 was made using some of the 6” 4-patch blocks I made back in January when I was trying to clean up my work station. 

2026-33

This series is being made smaller than my normal size. 46” x 54”. These are being made this size for the shop I teach at to use on their long arm teaching classes during August. This size fits on either of the Handi Quilter demo machines depending on the direction of how they get mounted.  Sew Orchid Design LLC in Norway will be having demos the month of August. Simple 6” four patch with 2” sashing with stars created with Corner Pop III popping at 4-1/2.

In #34 for 2026 I changed the sashing stars and still used the 6” four patches and 2” sashing. This time I popped at 2 on the Corner Pop II to get a normal V-block style star. 

2026-34

I still continued using more 6”four patch with #35 for 2026, same size of 46” x 54” and 2” sashing. 

2026-35

The accent stars were done this time with Corner Pop II first popping at 4 then at 2 to get the double star effect. I will need to count what is left of the 6” blocks to see if I can make another using this format.

We noticed this rather interesting moth the other day. 

 

I saw it first, it was on the studio window when I cleaned off the previous night’s flies. No real idea what it is. I flicked it off and it showed up again out on the back porch railing for Carol to notice. No idea what it will become. This time, time won’t tell, cause I’ll never know.

It looks like the weather will be hot and humid around here. Hopefully the air conditioner keeps working. Stay safe and enjoy the weekend. A store clerk told me today to stay cool, I told her I was always cool, the trick is to stay hydrated.