Saturday, February 24, 2007

Cold winter days

















On a bitterly cold day this week the tide washed up this huge ice chunk. Now, ice chunks are fairly common this time of year in the bay, but usually not this big - fairly close to shore. It was just tempting enough that Little Boy and I put on our winter gear, braved the howling winds and walked across the flats - through the "chocolate mayonnaise" - to take photos, of course! Really - one c
an hardly appreciate how big this particular ice chunk is unless there is a person standing in front of it for perspective; right? Take a look at the next photo if there is any question in your mind. Oh, and "chocolate mayonnaise" would be the thick, dark mud that pulls at your boots, sucking you down with each step - grabbing and pulling so you are forced to curl your toes as you walk - the better to hold your boot on - as you cross the mud flats of the bay at low tide.









It's been an odd week really. I am a bit unfocused on any new project after finishing the binding on Green Ocean Waves. Thank you for all the compliments, by the way! I am carefully considering several different quilt patterns that might be my next project.
.. even made up part of a sample block - which I still have to finish, but I figure it is still worth sharing (that is my thimble up on the top)... but nothing has really "stuck" with me. And, in the meantime I continue to hand sew the binding on the back of my log cabin in spare moments here and there. It does feel odd to not have a "current" quilt on the go - even though I have been sewing...


Sewing for the week would be another pair of much needed flannel PJ's for Little Boy (my his legs keep growing and growing!) and this cute bag (Simplicity 9949 - except I omitted the zipper and lined it). At least it is bright and cheery and hints at Spring
... and - it is full of fat quarters - waiting for me to decide on
w
hat to do with them.

And finally - here is a photo of Little Boy in front of some huge boxes... In an effort to avoid shopping I ordered some duffle bags on-line. I THOUGHT that I would be able to fold them up and send them to DH... here is a photo of what the delivery man brought... and because these duffle bags have hard bottoms and rolling wheels, etc., etc. there is no hope at all of folding them up smaller. Sigh. Any idea on how much $$$ this would cost to airmail? So - I had to go to the store anyway to bring them back ... which was not a complete loss because my Dad went with me and we made a day of it; including lunch and a few other errands. Well, at least it gave us something to do on a cold winter day!

12 comments:

quiltpixie said...

your bag and the ice chunk are both very spring like, though the one makes me feel warm and cheery and the other cold, cold cold....

Quilts And Pieces said...

Wow, that ice chunk is huge! In the second picture it doesn't look so big! Love your bright bag and had a laugh at those big boxes!

Joanne said...

That is impressive! I find your blog interesting especially for items like this -- I've never been to the coast in winter, or in Europe when you're there!
I love the pink block -- and the bag.

Sweet P said...

I've never seen an ice chunk that large! Wow! I bet Little Boy was excited over it too.

I love your fabric choices you used in making your bag. I'm intrigued with your sample block. Very interesting design.

Hanne said...

What a lovely block you are working on Evelyn!
The tote looks good too.

Thanks for sharing the adventure of the big ice chunk, wading through the chocolate mayo. Very describing.

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

Great post! Chocolate mayonnaise and the ice chuck photo... wow! Thanks for sharing. I love the bag you stitched up, very nice.

Shelina said...

Wow, I've n ever seen an ice chunk that big before. Brrrr. So nice of you to trudge through the chocolate mayonnaise to give us a picture. Your bag is so cute and cheery.
Your block is so intricate and absolutely amazing.

Vicky said...

Wow, that ice chunk is astounding! An unlikely site, for sure, here in So. Calif.! LOL

Love the pink bag. And the block is interesting. Can't wait to see what you do with it!

Mary Johnson said...

Now that's a big chunk of ice! I came home to mounds of snow in odd places where the plows have shovelled it off the roads but the roads were nice and clear and I didn't get delayed coming home so that was good.

I was just saying that I wished I had a duffel to bring back the stuff from Mom's that I couldn't fit in the suitcase. I do have a couple large ones that would fold up in my suitcase. I think I'll take one with me next time as I borrowed a small bag from Mom but still had to leave things at her house. Between shopping at the quilt show, books that we trade back and forth, and quilts to bring back and quilt for her I just had way too much stuff!

Passionate Quilter said...

just playing catch up--thanks for sharing all the fun photos, I always love reading your blog. Loved your green Ocean Waves quilt, Judy did a great job quilting it! I loved your tote bag, I'm a sucker for any bag/tote!

Linda C said...

even with those legs that are growing that is a big honkin' chunk of ice.

Your bag does look spring-like--hard to imagine that it will ever be warm when you have a frigid day like that.

Marla said...

Wow! THat's all I can think of when looking at that ice. Unfortunatley all we get ashore here is the occasional (disqusting) barrel from the bazzillion of oil rigs in the bay and gulf!