A quilt top (or quilt back) still in progress

And LOADS of other musings like aging and chickens and writing, lol. 

On Wednesday, although it feels like AGES ago, I snapped pics of the latest round on the medallion quilt. Later that day I chose the border fabric, then many other items landed on my proverbial plate, a chapter of my new novel completed being one of them, WOO HOO.

I left the clouds at the top of this shot because they are quite indicative of the colouring of the quilt, winterish and such. Maybe tomorrow I'll cut the border fabric and truly get this top or back DONE.

But there's been no time until now to write about that pretty quilt, or the broody chicken Gigi, who as of this writing has yet to lay an egg today, although she did lay late yesterday afternoon. She's definitely broody, spent some time in the broody hen condo until my husband felt sorry for her and took her into the garden. He let Camilla in too, then other hens, then everyone was shooed out, and Gigi found her way back to the coop.

Tomorrow might be a LONG day for that hen in the Broody Hen Condo, about which you can read here, when Ruthie had her turn. She snapped out of broodiness pretty easily, and might have even returned to laying today. Gigi could be a tougher hen to dissuade....

Everyone BUT Gigi was enjoying time in the Condo today, mostly nom-noming on the food we left in there, hoping to get Gigi back in at some point.

But back to that quilt. Or maybe my novel; four chapters are done, and perhaps tomorrow I'll get another under my belt. It's been mostly a half-chapter here and there, the days busy with activities and keeping eyes on moody broody hens, ahem. Tomorrow is definitely a clean out the coop day, what with a warmer and maybe wetter storm (or two) on the way. My husband just did the preliminary close-up of the coop minutes ago and noted that three were in the dustbox together. That also needs attention because with all the impending rain, there's no good place other than the dustbox in which for them to bathe.

My, but this is a LOT about the chickens, bless their hearts. Ruthie was dogging Camilla's steps earlier today, then Camilla snapped at her. Ruthie squatted for several seconds, then Owl got involved and Camilla yapped at her too. The sun has cleared the treeline, and splashed out brightness all over the garden before noon, so beautiful to see the light! The chickens appreciate it too, preening in the sun, resting even in wet grass. They're a HOOT to observe, and if approached, they follow if one is holding something, even an egg. Owl continues her puppy-like ways, keeping right at my heels, but she's not keen on squatting. And that's fine. If a hen squats for me, I'll rub her back until she stands. And then we all move on with our lives.

So truly, about that quilt.... I've been gazing at it, admiring it, wanting to finish it for days! I need to cut strips for the border, probably going to be four and a quarter inches wide. I'm thinking of a three and a half inch border, and taking into account the half-inch that will be tucked under for a Kawandi-style edge.... However, two nights ago after a medium amount of hand-quilting, my right thumb was very achy. That was a disappointment, let me say. I'll try again tonight, see how it feels. Last night I hand-quilted a smallish coaster, mostly using my left hand! It was tedious, and I actually did a row with my right, then swallowed my desire to hurry things along, and returned to my left hand, and was pleasantly surprised to find it proceeded with little irritation. Now it's one thing to stitch a mug-rug, another to tackle an entire quilt. I'm thinking about trying left-handed hand-quilting on the rainbow quilt, and I'll let you know how it goes if I get that brave.

I am pretty happy with the novel, let me also say. And trying to be patient with these shortened stints of writing. My previous style was churning out a chapter a day, but that was before we owned chickens. And before I got involved in other thrills that now need to be considered as vital as the writing. That's strange to consider, but the last time I wrote anything was last June before we got baby chicks, and before that was in, gulp, 2023. That's three years ago folks! It's been a long time (long, long time) since I was writing with the enjoyment I have now, but I'm three years older (lol) and not everything stays the same.

Three years ago I had big plans for The Enran Chronicles; the first four novels flew from my brain to hands as if all I had to do was sneeze and another three chapters were done. I can't say when I'll finish Book Five of that series, maybe after I finish the fictional WIP perhaps. As my sixtieth birthday hovers on the horizon, I'm accepting that not always do I get to make the big decisions. Last fall's health woes taught me a big lesson; don't presume to know everything. HAH! I'm okay now with no dairy, no gluten, no red meat, no ibuprofen. I'm embracing writing less at a sitting, or fewer sittings consecutively. I'm slowly pondering how to quilt if my right shoulder remains cranky and I can't use my sewing machine for days on end due to tinnitus. Lots of caveats as a person ages, lots and lots and lots.

Navigating those rumbling waves is the key; how to fit everything I want to do in my life into this day or tomorrow or Sunday.... Adding chickens to the mix might seem contrary to my artsy-fartsy ways, but chickens don't live forever, assuming they outwit predators. And it's been a lovely distraction keeping tabs on them, talking to them, and it will be even nicer when the weather is more pleasant. I use a computer mouse left-handed, so why can't I learn to sew left-handed? I really don't want to sew quilts with binding strips, let me say, but if push comes to shove.... Well, I'll do what needs to be done. I don't know if the quilt pictured at the top of this entry, which feels kinda far away right now, will be a quilt top or a quilt back. Maybe, once it's part of a sandwich, I'll leave that distinction for the recipient to decide. It will be whatever it's meant to be, but it won't be a broody hen, that's for certain.

Gigi won't be a broody hen forever, more about that as things progress. May you enjoy a beautiful weekend, and remember the uncertainties are great growing experiences. And yeah, we all need more of those even if we don't think we do....