Gusts of 35 MPH
The wind howling would put any howling dog to shame. I chose not to walk today.
I did retreat to the studio with firm determination to finish a flannel blanket. I had a cousin, Dwayne, that everyone called Dewey. It is Dewey’s daughter that had asked me to make a blanket for her grandson that will be born in February.
I am known for working with what is at hand. Thanks to daughter-in-law, Kersten, I had quite a few choices of flannel prints to choose from. The price per yard was attached to all the fabrics Kersten passed along. The flannel was $5.49 a yard. In today’s quilt shop prices this is half of what is metered out. I can attest to the three Christmas stockings I just finished last week, that flannel had been bought in an upscale shop in Hutchinson and I know it was $10.99 a yard. The thread count is quite a bit more than my Kersten flannel. I would prefer to work with the Kersten flannel any day of the week. I washed it and dried what I had chosen as a lower count flannel would be apt to shrink. I now know that my finished flannel crib blanket will not shrink regardless how many times it is laundered.
The flannel in this crib blanket worked up like working with butter. I used what batting I had and when I free motioned quilted it, it puffed up like little marshmallows, just what you want in a blanket to cuddle with. The higher count flannels do not puff up. I know this as the quilt Dennis has on his bed is heavy as it has the higher count flannel on top and bottom. Dennis wouldn’t care if he didn’t have marshmallows . . . he was interested in the heft of it . . . and he got it.
As it were, I have a flat box that this blanket is going to be going into, even if it has to be pushed into it. Tomorrow at four I will be at the UPS’ depot with a Litchfield address.
I will be pulling back for any “please could you . . . would you” as these next several months I want to enjoy each day as “mine.” I want to slowly and lovingly prepare for my family’s visits. Over the course of months that our home had been stripped to the bare bones of extras that would need dusting and care, I want Christmas in our home. And . . . you know I can pull it off. Dennis can roll his eyes only so far before he gets dizzy. Tee Hee!
As yesterday, I had the Christmas music on. It quiets my heart, literally and figuratively. It’s a good thing. Yes . . . the wind is still howling.