5/6/10

That sense of foreboding...

You know what I mean. A suitcase that was tight as a tick on the way up now has extra room in it. Have I forgotten anything? I've wandered the room three times trying to make sure there's nothing missing.


Yes, today is back to Texas day for me. I mean, I like the people I work with and all. And, for a nice change, the weather in Cleveland has been beautiful. Even the "severe" thunderstorm late last night that was all show and no water was nice. And, the king size bed was big and there were enough pillows. But, it's not the same thing as home. It's not the same thing as my own bed. And, pillows are no substitute for cuddling. I don't know how people that travel all the time do it.

It's the arguing and the teen angst and the colors we picked and the familiar cooking that really make home, right?

Ugh. Speaking of the food, this hotel needs a new cook. It's a nice and expensive hotel built in the middle of nowhere. Like a good idea that was expected to generate development that never came. We drove through about 3 suburbs of Cleveland to get here. One side of the road had the big houses but no yards, the other side of the road was tiny old cracker boxes with huge lots. And, despite the fact that it's spring up here, there's really nothing in bloom. I saw one sad forsythia that is dropping it's flowers and nothing else is up. It's May for cryin' out loud. Can we order some crayons and fix this place up? Please?

But, I've been working on my own bit of color. This is the drunkard's path I've been hand piecing. I don't know what layout I'll eventually use, but this was just kind of tossing them out and I really like the way the upper left is looking. I'm sure the final result will be some kind of overlapping like that. Unfortunately, when I paired the fabrics for blocks, I started with the dark centers, so that's about all I've got pieced. Until I laid it out, I had no idea I'd made so many. And, I also learned that I didn't know how to hand sew, so that's taken some time to learn and to get my stitches to be small enough, and which finger the thimble goes on.



The meetings have been pretty good. Of course, my team didn't win the competition. Apparently where two or more employees of this company are gathered together, there must be a competition. I HATE that. For Pete's sake, isn't there enough competition? We're in a competitive industry, we compete over jobs, we compete for recognition. Why isn't there time to just sit and enjoy one another without someone having to win all the time. Maybe it's a result of being in a competitive industry. No one knows how to just be still, without competing.

I started Emilie Richards' Touching Stars on this trip. Fun book. I'm really liking the characters, but I can already see where the plot is headed. And, it's going to make me uncomfortable. So, there's that tension that I'm predicting as I read every page. But, I'm only about a third of the way through, so I'm sure the tension bubble won't pop until the very end. (Personal note to Emilie...hun, can we get some more books about Helen Henry? She's your best character by far. Although I have to admit that every time I treadle, I think of Eliza Kinkaid.)

Okay, so that's my week in review. No way back Wednesday this week. No VTT this week. I didn't prepare well enough before I left home to have those things ready. But, I have gotten some time to catch up on blogs last night. I gotta tell ya'. We all live exciting lives and don't let anybody tell you different. I'm just glad we found other people who recognize that we're exciting because I'm not so sure the general population would agree. At least the folks I left at the exciting casino night last night didn't think sewing sounded more fun than gambling with a free hundred dollar chip. Me? I'm not hung over. So, today I'll celebrate having enjoyed my own kind of excitement. TV and hand piecing. Heaven.

Take care and have a great Thursday. Lane

11 comments:

Tammy said...

Hi Lane,
Could you cash in the chip and buy fabric? That is what I would have done. lol..the world definitely full of different strokes for different folks. Your hand piecing of drunkard's path is lovely. It looks like you weren't sleeping very well as you posted this at 3:11 a.m. Home is always best.

Becky said...

I'm liking the overlap in the drunkard's path too! I don't enjoy casino life either and you already know I'm content to sit in a hotel room and stitch all day from my travels with Rick! Have a safe flight home...I'm sure you are being anxiously awaited!! :)

Paulette said...

Your drunkard's path is looking really nice! Some day I'd like to give hand piecing a try, and this looks like the perfect quilt to try it on, with all those curves.

marlene@ByTheSeam said...

I did a few blocks with the curved piecing on the machine and it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. I really enjoyed it. Yours is nice I like the fabrics. I am going to make one eventually.

Emilie Richards said...

The story may NOT be heading where you think. You'll have to let me know. As for Helen? She's the only character guaranteed to be in every story, but Granny Grace in Sister's Choice gives her a real run for her money.
Glad you're reading and enjoying them. BTW, I wanted to do a book titled Drunkard's Path, but you can imagine I was outvoted by my publisher.

oldbatt said...

I would have cashed in that chip for fabric also! I missed WBW but glad you are on your way home. Your drunkard's path looks great so far, how many blocks do you plan on making? I enjoy being home too, even being away one night makes me want to be home in the sewing room yelling at the dogs to give me back the sock they found on the laundry room floor. Best, Lisa

Coloradolady said...

This pattern for your quilt is beautiful! And I am with every one else, I would have sold the chip for $50.00 if nothing else, you could have purchased some fine fabrics with that money!!! Have a safe trip home!

Vesuviusmama said...

The Drunkard's Path is looking good! I started one a while ago, and ended up using those blocks as a border for another quilt, which I really liked. Now I need to start another one. Not sure I'm up for hand sewing them, though!

Sunshine said...

I'm obviously behind in my blog reading! I'm impressed with your curved piecing - looks great!

Cheers,
Christine

Elizabeth said...

I love the colors in your drunkard's path. Beautiful. As for going with the crowd, it's overrated. I'd much rather do my own thing and be happy, than uncomfortable in the 'popular' crowd.

Mistea said...

Drunkards path blocks are so fun to play with. I look forward to seeing how you put these ones together.