Thursday, February 19, 2015

Cold Comfort

Some of you may be feeling sorry for those of us in the Deep Freeze, either here in the Midwest ("Chi-beria") or over there on the east coast. Don't.

It was -8 degrees when I woke up today.  Pretty darn cold.  My sister-in-law is in Florida right now and, like many, has been there awhile in order to avoid this Chicago winter of ours. She invited me to go with her but I declined. She keeps sending me pictures of all the fun she's having in the sun. Don't get me wrong, they're nice and I'm glad she's having fun but I'm not really envious. Actually, we're okay here. More than okay. We're kind of used to this weather. And we've still got sun. Supposed to get all the way up to 4 degrees later.


Can't imagine where the Weather Channel is getting their pictures from . . . .


The real view.

I'm sitting on the sofa right now, curled up in a quilt, wearing my pink fuzzy socks, drinking coffee and beginning to work on the binding for a small quilt I started a long time ago. Life is good, I think to myself.


A few days ago I also became inspired to quilt then finish my little Valentine's Day quilt so I'm on a quilting/finishing roll again.



It felt good to finish something I'd started for a change. Yesterday, I looked at my stack of small quilt tops and half-finished quilts and wondered why I usually just reach a certain point and then quit. Some of them I actually like. No good reason I guess, except that I buy fabric then become inspired to try new projects pretty often and those push the others into the background, then the Unfinished drawer. Many of them I know will not even take that long to finish. So, I pulled out an old one and decided now was as good a time as any to finish something small. 


Anyway, yes, it's cold here. But, for some reason I don't ever mind. I guess I'm just a natural home body. My nesting instinct really kicks in during the winter and every winter I find a strange comfort in the extreme cold. I'm lucky to be able to work at home so I don't have to go anywhere. I don't have an outdoor job - unless you consider standing out in the back yard every hour on the hour, watching the little dog, making sure she doesn't get dragged off by a hawk or coyote my outdoor job. (It kind of IS now that I think about it . . . . )


My husband is working from home today, my daughter came home a couple of days ago to "nurse" a cold or the flu (actually, I am the one doing the nursing . . . . ) and is resting on the other sofa, the dog is curled up next to her, the coffee's hot and I have my sewing to do. It's kind of quiet and cozy here. What could be better? I wouldn't trade it for Florida, that's for sure. 



28 comments:

Cheryl E. said...

I agree!! I'll take the cold in order to avoid that awful heat.

kmcallister said...

Kathy, do you know what line/pattern the border fabric in your first quilt is? I really like that.

Janet O. said...

Spoken like a true homebody--and I belong to those ranks, too!
Such a sweet Valentine creation!

Carmen y Prady said...

Que frioooooo¡¡¡¡¡
Unos trabajos preciosos.
Un beso

sunny said...

Having recently returned from a week in Florida, I sure wouldn't mind going back. But I do consider myself very fortunate that I don't have to go outdoors, and i have a million things to do indoors - quilting, stitching, crocheting, etc.....

Donna said...

Your quilts are lovely, and I'm inspired to make a small quilt again. I do enjoy the occasional travel experience, but for the most part I am a homebody also.

Huckleberry stitches said...

I love the cold, in fact my parents moved us to Florida and when I was hired to work in DENVER when turning 21 I jumped at the chance to go! Moved back 12 years later for my hubby to finish school and spent 3 years in Florida again. After his schooling we packed everything and moved to Idaho for his new job. I thought , Super! Now I can get into the snowy cold again. Nope I was wrong, we don't get much snow, but I am a homebody and prefer to stay close to base U less I am at the LQS! So here is to hoping the snow comes down in Idaho!

http://thankfullga447 said...

I am not a warm/heat person and I am lucky I don't have to drive anywhere and worry about work.

Scrappy quilter said...

I love winter cold and snow. We are having very warm temps and we have no snow. Very nice quilts you've been working on. And your hand quilting is wonderful.

Ada Plouvier-Kopitopoulou said...

I love the cozy, inside atmosphere when it is freezing outside. It is cold here in Sparta, Greece, but not freezing. I'll stay inside today and start a new project. Love your quilts!

Susan said...

I really can't imagine it being that cold, but I would choose it over hot weather too! Enjoy your nest.

Mary @ Neat and Tidy said...

I'm with you. I'm heading to work this morning, but I'd like to stay home and sew. It's -22° at our house - good nesting weather!

BJ said...

I love the cold. Actually, I love the snow - looking at it, not shoveling it or driving in it. That's for the young 'uns. We spend 3 seasons in a state that actually HAS seasons (and can get snow starting in September) and we winter in a warm spot, but not TOO warm. I, too, love curling up under one quilt to work on another, but my stitching isn't as perfect as yours! Beautiful quilts you're finishing. Happy nesting and nurturing!

Jennifer M said...

Kathy I have to agree. I enjoy our seasons and would miss them if I moved away. The cold gives me an excuse to stay in if I wish and quilt! I must say you have such an eye for quilts, patterns and colors. I love all your quilts, I truly haven't seen one I don't love. Keep it up Kathy:))))

Me and My Stitches said...

I feel exactly the same about the cold winter. I'm lucky enough to work from home as well, so I can just look out the window at the pretty snow while I'm sewing my heart out!

Yvonne said...

Love the view from your window. I love snow but that is maybe because we hardly get any over here. Your quilt
work is pretty!

Dominique MARIE said...

Comme je vous comprends,

Wendy Caton Reed said...

I think a lot of us quilters feel the same way. Stay cozy!

Unknown said...

Wait I'm in Florida and I woke up to 23 degrees this morning! Oh but tomorrow is coming with a high of 70. Don't you love it!
stay warm!
mary - mburnette912@bellsouth.net

Candee said...

I feel the same way Kathy! Just love snuggling in with my tea & stitching this time of year with no yard work to do. A friend is coming over to quilt & have lunch today, perfect.

Judy said...

Great post! I agree with you, I'd take the cold over the heat any day of the week. And sitting with a cup of coffee wrapped in a quilt sounds like a great way to spend some time :-) Thanks for sharing about not finishing some of your quilts. It seems like sometimes they don't go exactly as planned and then they can be hard to finish. Your Valentine's quilt is coming along nicely....

Unknown said...

I grew up in Minnesota, so I know cold winters. I live in So. Calif. now, so don't think I could take the cold now. But I miss all the seasons, esp. fall. I laugh at the TV Weather people that make a big deal about the huge amt. of snow, cold, etc. this year. It's always been that way, as I remember from growing up in snow country. They just have to have something dramatic to say!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Ditto for me in Ontario, Canada. It's always good to get cosy and have stitching to do. Your stitching is lovely, by the way.

Gayle said...

I just finished a little Valentine quilt today - glad to know I have good company! Enjoy your snow - I'm a fan of winter too.

Mary Ann said...

I don't mind winter either. I am a homebody myself. Love to work on my quilting projects. This year my goal it too get some of my kits that I have collected along the way finally sewn. Not necessarily quilted but at least put together. And sprinkle in some UFOs too.

kiquilter said...

What could be better than sewing in a bright sunny room that looks out on a snow-covered yard? So cheerful!

Kathleen Tracy said...

Kim - That border fabric is from Cynthia's Scrapbag by Carrie Quinn

Pam in IL said...

I can't say that I love the cold or winter, for that matter, but by this time of year, I'm feeling the same as you about the cold. Love the Valentine's quilt!

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