Better Late Than...(Sutherlin, OR)

I know!  I'm running late.  November has come and gone.  All I can say is that I have spent most of the last six weeks quilting, walking, and watching too many Hallmark movies or holiday baking shows.  For me, not the most productive use of my time, but Dan has accomplished quite a bit.  

Hitch - whatcha doin'?

Dan finished his radiology treatments.  Now, he waits to see what the results will be.  Hopefully, all cancer will be gone and there is no damage from the treatments in other areas.  Now he is working on getting healthy and getting his energy back.  In the meantime, he sold our 2012 Honda Fit and the buyer agreed to wait on picking it up until we had our new car.

Yep, we have a new 2021 Grand Cherokee.  I feel like we are driving a computer.  There's so much to learn.  Dan did all the research and decided that only a few came close to what we needed.  First being automatic and towable.  He is installing the tow package now.  The jeep is so quiet and smooth on the highway compared to our old car, not to mention, it has more power.  Oh, and heated seats!  I am in heaven especially when we go grocery shopping in the cold foggy mornings at 7 am.

Dan found our window-mounting hummingbird feeder, so I filled it up and installed it on the window right behind our couch.  There are two hummingbirds hanging out in the tree that's in the photo.  Our neighbor has a feeder as well and they certainly spend a lot of time flying back and forth between the two of feeders usually right over our heads.    Hitch has been the most entertained.

Max, on the other hand, keeps falling asleep when the hummingbirds show up.

Here's a blow-up so you can see the hummingbird watching Max while he sleeps.  Well, he is getting old.  He turned 15 this year.  He is probably just as happy to have sunshine to warm his ol' bones than to watch for fast-moving birds.

Hummer hoovering above Max's head to the right.

November must have been our month for birds.  A couple of weeks ago, Dan and I were walking the back storage area inside the RV park for something different.  It is a great place to pick blackberries during the summer or take your dog for a walk.  There is also a path that connects there to take walkers up the hill and into the woods.  This time we were just looking around the field when Dan saw this guy watching us and slowly strolling towards us.

Mikado Pheasant

He wasn't skittish when we started talking to him.  If anything he seemed to be used to humans which had us wondering if he was someone's pet.  As we started walking back the way we came, he started following us and sometimes running ahead of us, but we worried a little about how he kept jumping at Dan.  We were not sure if he wanted to be picked up or was looking for a fight.  We did not feel threatened, but other residents have felt threatened and one woman managed to hurt herself while trying to get away from the bird.  We have a feeling that the park will be calling someone soon to capture the bird.  I hope they find him a good home.

We found out that the bird is a Mikado Pheasant from Taiwan so not a native bird to North or South America.  Dan posted photos to a local group on FB.  There have been several sightings of this bird or of several others in the Sutherlin area, but no one seems to know who owned them or where they came from.  One theory is that he escaped from his home during the wildfires.  Possible, but he had to travel over 8 miles over rough terrain to get to this location and pheasants are short distance flyers about 150 feet.  That's a lot of short flights to get here.

Kevin??

I decided to call him Kevin from the movie "UP".  He is just like the bird in the movie.  Sneaking up on people, not wanting to leave them alone, and making funny noises.  When you shoo him away, you almost feel like he is shooing you right back!  But, we haven't fed him chocolate like Russell did in the movie.  Heaven forbid he follows us all the way back to the coach.  Our cats would never forgive us!

And then there was the day I was out walking around the park before Thanksgiving and I saw a flock of turkeys sitting in this tree.  

What a bunch of Turkeys!

Hmm, an impending feeling of doom?  Who knows.

On The Cutting Board

I'm the first to admit that the last six weeks have been stressful.  And the more stressed I get, the more I quilt.  Between the election and now another lockdown...sorry....we are in a "pause" due to COVID spiking.  Still, I'm not sure how much longer some of our small businesses are going to survive if this one goes past the two-week due date.  

I am working on the last set of blocks on the big quilt so I did make quite a bit of progress during the summer.  I just could not focus on this one project any longer.   I was more than ready for a distraction from sitting at my hoop.

Hitch is such a good helper

I did try to ignore starting another project by working on the last row.  Good excuse, right?  I thought it would help with my wandering quilt-eye.  I needed to add length and it was the same project.    Plus, I have found that I really like making the Delectable Mountains block.  Hmmm, could be another quilt to add to my list....and I digress.  It did not work.

By mid-October, I was working on this Monster Mash-up quilt by FatCat Patterns.  I'm hoping Dusty is giving me the raspberry for telling him to move and that it is not his opinion about the quilt. 

I finally got him off the quilt so I could get a photo of all the blocks.  Psst--the black cat is my favorite one, of course!

This top was done last winter, but I felt it was time to get it out for quilting.  This pattern is called "Follow the Stars" by Marlous Designs at QuiltWoman.com.

Hitch thought it was his turn to photobomb a quilt

I decided to wait on layering and quilting the above quilts until I finished the Llama quilt.  I know...now I sound like I'm going around in circles.  There is a method to my madness and in the end, they will all be quilted.  Anyway, this pattern of the Llama is from "Native Flair" by FatCat Patterns.  It is the same pattern that I used for my southwest quilt.  I just wanted to make the Llama block into its own quilt with some fabric I found in a cute quilt shop in Texas.

Quilting wasn't the only thing I have been doing.  I made the mistake of spending time on Missouri Star Quilt Company's site. Big mistake!  My wish list got big fast!  I ended up buying a couple of fat quarter bundles that I just could not live without.  The best part was receiving a hand-written Thank you note from the shop.  So sweet!

I'm not sure what I will do with the first bundle, but the second bundle was already marked for a Hedgehog quilt.

Yep, number four is now on my *WIPs list.  My list just keeps on growing and to think that I started the list to keep me on some kind of schedule.  I refuse to admit how many new projects are on my list right now.  I can only hope that I will start slowing down before I start on a fifth project.

*WIP - works in progress

This is the beginning of "Happy Hedgehogs" by Melly and Me and hopefully the last of starting so many projects for the past two months! Ha!

Happy Quilting!

Fall Colors (Sutherlin, OR)

I have been spending the last four weeks at the park enjoying the autumn weather.  It has been a quiet month as far as traveling or just going out sightseeing.  

Dan has been busy with going to his treatments five days a week.  Other than having problems sleeping, he has had very little side effects from radiology. 

So what if it is only 50 degrees out, I have a fur coat.

The cats have been enjoying the cooler weather.  Dusty starts begging as soon as we are up.  Try explaining to a cat that it is dark outside and you are just not in the mood for sitting outside before sunrise.🐱

Max is ready to hibernate for the winter

I'm loving the fall colors and the Halloween decorations around the RV park.  Gert the goat has a new friend and fall look for autumn.  I'm curious to see what Gert will wear for Christmas!

Every morning walk has something new to see.  Low lying clouds, changing colors, deer and turkey sightings, and new autumn flowers blooming.

 Even the crisp cold air has been a welcome change from our dry summer.  Everything is green again. 

Sunrise - Timber Valley Skp RV Park

I have also been spending too much time shopping online lately.  I decided it was time to get a new pillow sham for Hitch's bed.  He is the only one that will sleep on it, so it is his bed.  A new scratching post is on its way as well.  

Hitch says it is time for a new scratching post

Yep, I do believe this one has had it.

On the Cutting Board

Well, I'm trying very hard to get my quilt done.  Max, as you can see below, has been a big help.  

I have to admit that the kitty-hug breaks have kept me from getting tired of working on such a big project and I have made some great progress despite the setbacks.  Below, is Row 2 sewn together.  I finally started marking 1/2 inch along the edges so I would not quilt over the 1/4 seam allowance.

I thought sewing the seams on the backing would be the hardest to do, but I found it to be the easiest part....well, next to hand-quilting each block that is.  I can hand-quilt all day on blocks.

Row 3 -- done...

All 5 rows are now sewn together and the back is done.  And you will never guess my next problem...It is too short by about 8 inches.  I need the quilt to cover the pillows as well as hang far enough over the end of the bed to cover the skirting. 

In the meantime, the quilt is in the hoop so I can finish quilting the 1/2 inch gaps along the seams.

Hopefully, I have enough fabric left to make one more row.  I decided to add a row of Delectable Mountains to the top using paper-foundation.  I'm working on the row in between quilting in the hoop

Happy Quilting!  Happy Halloween!👻

Yearning for Blue Skies (Sutherlin, OR)

2020 just keeps on giving. To all my friends being battered by tropical storms and hurricanes, I hope you and your families are safely tucked away from Sally and the storms that are following in her wake.  In the meantime, I am also hoping our west coast friends with homes in the wildfire's path are safe.

September started out with some unusually hot weather.  We have been sticking close to home due to the hot weather and our power being unpredictable.  We did not want to come home to roasted cats after being gone all day.  With temps rising into the 90s, we spent the early morning taking walks around the RV park or grocery shopping.  Usually by 9 am, it was already getting on the warm side and a good time to sit outside with the cats until we lost our shade in the early afternoon.  It sounds boring, but I have been enjoying our quiet times.

On one of my walks, I came across this doe and her fawn.  Neither one was worried about me walking nearby.

The cats were certainly enjoying our beautiful weather.  As you can see below how they were taking advantage of their time spent outdoors.

Tired Dusty

I spent most of my outdoor time reading, talking to neighbors, and working on my quilt.  Doesn't Max look impressed?

The Beast is sleeping

One evening last week, we took a short evening walk.  I noticed the sunset was an unusual hazy red.  I thought of the old sailor's adage: 

Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning

Red sky at night, sailor's delight

I guess that only works at sea because our red sunset was due to wildfire smoke from a fire north of us.  The next thing we knew we were being told there was a new wildfire about 10 miles (as the crow flies) east of us in Guild, OR.  As the day progressed, the sky became darker as the wind blew the fire in our direction.

Day 1

We were asked to prep for evacuation as the smoke turned our world yellow.  Several of the Escapees decided not to wait for evacuation orders and left early.  Yesterday after a week of monitoring warnings, our Level 1 was downgraded to normal, but for some evacuated Sutherlin residents living in the eastern areas, there will be no home to return to. 

Day 1

If you wondering why we did not pack up and leave the area, it is because we need to stay here.  Dan will be starting radiation treatment for prostate cancer for the next 2 months in Roseburg.  He had three appointments this week for consulting and prepping for his upcoming treatments.

Day 2 & 3

For more than a week we have been monitoring our alert links and watching the local news.  The Archie Creek fire stopped moving east thanks to the winds dying down.  This is good news for everyone with homes and businesses in its path, but no wind means the smoke is still hanging around.

Large pieces of ash

I honestly found it easier to do a 14-day quarantine than hiding away from hazardous smoke in our closed up coach.  At least, we could open windows, take walks, or sit outside.  Now, we try to keep our outdoor time limited because the air quality index is way beyond the hazardous level.  Very Unhealthy is 201 to 300 ppm.  Most of western Oregon has been off the charts with 400+ due to the thick smoke.  We have KN95 masks, but I still limit my time outdoors.  I just got my COPD under control with an inhaler.  I really don't want to backslide to how I was feeling last year.  

Next door neighbor's site

Thank you to all Firefighters who are risking their lives and working 24/7 to keep our community safe and the wildfires contained.

Now, if we can just explain this to our cats who are suffering from cabin fever.  Dusty especially doesn't understand why he can't do his usual 2-hour outside cat nap.  If it is raining or gusty winds, all we have to do is let him step outside.  He gets the hint and comes right back in.  Yep, that big furry baby is a fair-weather only kind of cat.😸  But smoke?  How do you explain it isn't safe to breathe?  Yea, he is not a happy camper right now. 😾  Max and Hitch are happy no matter what they do that day as long as they get fed and their share of attention.

As I finish writing this post, the sky is starting to clear.  I saw the sun for the first time in eight days and the wind is picking up a little from the west blowing east.  With some luck, the wind might blow the fire back into the burn-area.  

On The Cutting Board

I am still working on my southwest quilt, but I don't have any new photos except for this one taken 10 days ago.

One of our last days outdoors.

I'm hoping by the time I post again, I will have a couple of rows sewed together.

Happy Quilting and Please Stay Safe!

It's Beginning to Feel Like Home (Sutherlin, OR)

We are back in Timber Valley Skp (Escapees Co-Op) Park in Sutherlin, OR and I am surprised to admit that it is beginning to feel like home.  We are #14 on the waiting list for a Timber Valley site.  We were #80 in August of last year, so we have moved up faster than planned.  We should have a site by this time next year at the latest, giving us a place to stay - a home base.   We will still travel in the future, but have our own site here as a home base.  After 11 years of wandering around the country, I am looking forward to having a place to call home.   

We have already established our doctors and dentists with annual checkups.  Next, we will get our cats a veterinarian.  They all need a checkup.  Shhh!  Mum's the word!

What did you say?

This comes at a good time. We were starting to notice a couple of years ago that it was getting harder to make reservations for more than two weeks during high-seasons.  Even the military FamCamps stay busy during their high-seasons.  Some are first come first serve while others have a reservation system.  

The first site before owners returned

We have spent some of our time in offseason areas by going south during the summer or to the northwest coast for the winter.  Staying in half-filled to almost empty RV parks was great, but that can get challenging while traveling through bad weather or dealing with heatwaves for long periods of time. 

Deer watching Dan work on our coach

This year, RV sales skyrocketed due to the lockdown.  Families are finding it easier to pack up kids along with pets into their own rigs traveling to their favorite getaway spots.  No hassles with waiting for flights or hotel reservations.  And that's great, but there are so many more RV sales and not enough campgrounds to accommodate the sudden interest in the RV lifestyle.

Our second site with a creek behind us.

At this time, there are very few new campgrounds being built and existing ones are not expanding, causing many to be booked up to a year in advance.  Not to mention that many RV parks are now doing short and long term leases to people that are only present during the weekends - if that - leaving travelers with slim pickings for available sites, especially with our 40ft coach. 

Cats enjoying their outdoor time

Dan spent weeks looking for RV parks with more than a week opening when we started traveling north this year. As soon as the lockdown ended, most opened RV parks were booked solid every weekend or worse for the whole summer with only a few scattered days left for travelers.

Our neighbor's site with Gert the Goat

Definitely great news for RV business profits!  I am hoping this will encourage small business owners to build more campgrounds across the nation.

Street views of the park

Please understand that I'm not complaining.  I'm just explaining why we will not be traveling as much in the future which I'm already starting to miss because there are so many places I would like to see again.

Summertime blooms in the Timber Valley

We do plan to keep traveling, but it will be more structured and planned in advance.  No more spontaneous travel plans of "which way shall we go this week" and "hey! this sounds interesting, let's go this way and stay a week or two".

Love the color and the fence

 So, you are probably wondering why we picked this area for a home base. This part of Oregon is green with lot's of animals wandering around.  Sutherlin is working hard to maintain their small town, and Roseburg is nearby for shopping trips as well.   There are also many Thousand Trails and Oregon state parks to travel to for getaways in Oregon.  This Skp co-op is on I-5 south of Eugene  and just north of Roseburg.

 You probably noticed that our site looks a little bare from the above photos.  Each site comes with full-hook-ups, a shed, and a concrete patio. Park leaseholders manage and run the park, with only a few employees. Leaseholder committees and volunteer groups do much of the maintenance and daily work in the park.

 A bare site will more than likely be our first site.  They tend to be a transit site and are often on the list for travelers to rent for short periods of time since their owners are still on the road or in this case they are still working and have a house.  We can trade to a more developed or better-located site as soon as one becomes available that others do not want.  We will be at the bottom of the trading list that is based on how long the leaseholder has been in this park.    

A family of turkey come for a visit

I'm already scoping out other people's developed sites, taking mental notes of what I like about their landscaping.  

Tired Dusty

The sites on either side of us have gardens and patios.  I really like the site with Gert the Goat.  The owner has kept her area simple and yet cool and inviting with bark instead of rocks, plenty of plants/flowers, and a wood deck.  We know her site is kitty-approved because ours keep going over for visits. 

On The Cutting Board

I'm still focusing on getting my SW quilt done.  No side distractions!  I'm so proud of myself.  Usually, by this time, I have started two new projects.  It is a slow process and of course, my mistakes are slowing me down especially when I discovered one major mistake that included a lot of ripping out seams. 

Wrong order - dark alternate block in the center

In my last post, I showed my first finished row (above).  All blocks quilted with front and back seams sewed together.  I realized my mistake when I started my second row.  I had my alternate blocks in the wrong order!  After separating the blocks, I used our bed to layout the whole quilt in the correct order and number the rows.  This became quite a challenge with cats wanting to help by rearranging my work.

Correct layout - dark alternate first

My next problem was backing.  I had bought this fabric backing for a different quilt top for our bed.  The old quilt top wasn't going to be big enough for the bed in our new coach.  I'm happy to say that I had just enough to cover all the blocks with a 4x18 inch piece left!  Whew!  

Basting Hummingbird block

I decided to sandwich then baste all the blocks and stack them all in the correct order.  Now I have this huge pile of blocks sitting in the living room.  

All blocks sandwiched and basted

It does keep me motivated to get them all quilted! 

Kokopeli

I'm quilting each block in the correct order and I plan to wait until the blocks are done before I start sewing them together.

Hand design for center quilting

Most of the quilting is in the ditch.  For non-quilters - I am quilting close to the seams.  I'm keeping the sashing designs simple for fast and easy work.

Second alternate block

Alternate block

I'm feeling better about my work-in-progress!  I'm halfway through the pile.  With any luck and no more major setbacks, I hope to post photos of the blocks sewed together....at least a couple of rows.

Happy Quilting!