February Flowers, Quilting Books, More Crossroads Blocks

 You must be tired of me talking about how much I admire Geraniums. Here, deep in winter, is mine giving out pretty blooms. 

Of course, I try my best to be good to them. I read that Geraniums and most plants enjoy Banana water...just the skins soaked for a day or two in water. I had to try that and now all my plants are getting a drink or two of the egg shell / banana water. I also spritz the leaves regularly and I never overwater. 

After enjoying these books from the library, I wound up buying a copy of them. They are both wonderful additions to a quilting library. Jennifer's book, Everyday Quilting-The Complete Beginners Guide is one of the best quilting books I've read...so clearly written and includes lots of photos as a guide. And I would love to sew every single project of the 20+ she chose to include. Jennifer is The Inquiring Quilter blogger and hosts the popular Wednesday Wait Loss weekly link party. Amazon link is here if you'd like to check her book out.

And Riane Elise's book Quilting By Hand is just so lovely. Pretty pictures and lots of information about hand quilting. I like how she keeps the directions simple and makes hand work like this look so doable.  Seeing her sweet projects made me think about the size of blocks I usually work with and the use of solids in projects too. Amazon link to read more if you'd like to.

Four more of the Crossroads quilt blocks have been sewn. I'm using just scraps for the crosses and you wouldn't believe how many times a scrap will be big enough for three of those crosses but not the fourth. Ugh! My only rule with these is no florals, well, maybe tiny florals though. 

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is did you have a crush on someone and when. I remember in junior high liking a boy. Didn't really understand much about it all because we were kept very innocent about boys, etc. in those days. But this boy...there was something about him and his straight black hair; I could spot him in a crowd a mile away. And it seemed to make my day when I did catch sight of him. I never ever spoke to him, just admired him from afar. What about you?? Crush on a star maybe??

I don't want to bore you or upset anyone by including medical bits in my posts so skip the following if you'd rather not read such.

  I had my echocardiogram...took a long time to do- almost an hour and it is an ultrasound so not at all invasive or painful or anything. I heard my heartbeat for the first time in my life and learned that the sound of your heartbeat is unique to you. I never knew that. Did you? Right away the technician said my aortic valve sounded fine. But that was it; I'll have to wait till the cardiologist gets to see the results to learn more. Then I got fitted for the halter monitor and am wearing it till Saturday. The device has a little weight to it and I found the strap annoying around my neck so rigged up a way to pin it on my shoulder. I am feeling surprisingly calm so far (maybe because I'm finally getting something seen to that's nagged me for ages). Thank you all warmly/sincerely/ always for the good wishes. 

Here it must have snowed all night as it's looking like a beautiful winter postcard out there. Goodbye ice!! Have a good weekend!

Sharing this post with Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, So Scrappy, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Songbird Designs and Inquiring Quilter.