2011 February 23 — Patchwork Times by Judy Laquidara

February 23, 2011 · by JudyL

Remember back in October when I put the new cone of Superior Masterpiece thread on the machine and readers guessed when the thread would run out? The cone was dated and put on the machine on October 4. This morning I came downstairs very early to sew and began winding bobbins and before the first bobbin was full, the thread ran out.

Yes, I could have dusted before taking the photo but I didn’t! At least I now know where my stitch markers are! If I had been guessing how long a cone of thread would last, I would have thought two months but it lasted more than 4-1/2 months. I’m surprised! During the past 4-1/2 months, I’ve done a bit more quilting on the longarm, using different thread, than I probably usually do but during the past 4-1/2 months, I’ve not been gardening or canning so I’ve been doing more sewing than I do in the summer months and I suppose it all averages out. I’ve dated the new cone and will see how long it lasts.

This helps me know how much thread to keep on hand.

This could be two years worth of thread and without knowing how long it lasts, I would have thought this would barely be enough for a year! I usually stock up when I see the Superior Thread people at Kansas City in May but this year, I won’t need to buy MasterPiece.

The winner of the contest is Pat.

Pat, congratulations and check your email!

An Unwelcome Resident

February 23, 2011 · by JudyL

A couple of weeks ago, we looked outside and saw a hawk perched upon one of the posts for the fence around our fruit frees. We thought it was kinda weird but now he/she and a buddy have set up permanent residence. There’s almost always one sitting on one of those posts and one either on another post or on the ground looking for something to eat.

The chickens aren’t afraid of them but those hawks keep swooping down around the chicken run. Sometimes the hawks hang out on the limbs right over the coop. I’m getting real aggravated with having them around.

Some evenings when it isn’t too cold, we let the chickens out to run around while we’re out there with them and they especially like to play in the garden area but with these two hawks around, those chickens are staying safely in their pen. You know how badly those hawks would want a chicken for dinner but they can just go find someone else’s chickens . . or maybe catch a raccoon or a groundhog and that would be one less for me to have to catch!