When the Going Gets Tough...

This Girl hits the road for an adventure!

(Un)employment paperwork, supply shopping & bill paying was handled on Monday, along with an eye doctor appointment for the DH that I tagged along for.  Then, it was time to pack the bags (and sewing machines, and quilt supplies).

The Road called to me!  Well, that and some much needed  chores and some urgent quilting and....you get the picture.

Destination - where else? - the Michigan House!

It has officially been 10 years since the garage & shed got a coat of paint.  I'm up here to see to that.  I won't get it all done this week, as I need to be back home Friday afternoon for some weekend commitments.  That means I get to come back all of next week too!  If I'm really sloooooow, the week after that as well.

I had some company come along for this road trip.  It's Odie's very first time coming up to the 'Home away from Home', as the DH calls it.  It was a little weird at first - pulling out Drake's old crate once we arrived.

Odie in Drake's old Michigan crate, trying it on for size.

But it's really good to have a traveling dog at my side again!  I had to relearn how to pack the truck with a dog crate in it. The drive takes 2.5-3 hours, depending on traffic. Odie did well!  He even let me know, loudly & in no uncertain terms, exactly when he needed a potty stop - 2 hours into the trip. So glad he rides as good as he does, no sicking up at all, and mostly silent.

There is some urgent quilting that needs to get done. Did you catch that up above?  More on that topic later.  For now, we are enjoying Tuesday evening and the coming break in the unseasonably hot temps (90's!) we've had for the past week. 

September Crossroad

While Odie was a welcome addition and a distraction for the first few weeks of this month, his arrival didn't stop the inevitable march of time towards last Friday, the 22nd.

I'm at a new crossroad. 

Back in June, right after Father's Day, my entire department at work was informed of how a companywide initiative would effect us. Over the course of the next 18 months, the company will reduce their presence in our state to nothing at all.  Our team would be one of the first to face the decision - relocate to the East Coast or take the severance package.

While I did enjoy my visit out there last Fall, relocating there is an entirely different proposition. The area is congested, very expensive and subject to cold, snowy winters.  The opportunity with the company was interesting, challenging and with additional room for growth.

A giant chart was made, along with a huge pro/con list. Discussions with DH were numerous. Different scenarios, living arrangements, research topics were the stuff of my days and evenings.

In the end, the relocation was out of the picture - not going to work for DH & I.  As it turned out, not one of my 8 team members took the relocation package. So, on Friday, after collecting all the equipment and badges, out processing everyone, and turning over everything to IT and security, I was the last person on the team to walk out the door.  It was bittersweet and a relief.

Now, it's time to move forward - not sure which direction the path will lead.  

New Addition!

There is a new addition to our family!

Introducing...

ODIE

Odie arrived home very late on Saturday, 2 September after a very long drive home from my Minnesota road trip and is settling into our routine. The cats aren't entirely thrilled with the addition to the household - it's a two steps forward, one step up the cat tree to safety.  

The details:

Call Name: Odie

Registered Name*:  Magik's Redfyre Son of a Preacher Man

Breed: Chinese Shar Pei

Color: Black or Silver Sable - too soon to tell

Age: 9 1/2 weeks as of this post date 

Or is it just a patio statue of a Shar-Pei?

No, Odie is quite real and Cherry Quilts has a new Studio Dog! This is Odie on his first Tuesday with us, asleep under my sewing table.

I was very fortunate to be able to be off & then work from home for the first few days to help the transition.  We have swapped some things around, including putting small chunks of 2x4 under the legs on this table, so that we could put a larger crate (Boxer size or 24" x 36" x 26") under it.  For safety sake, all activity in my studio is either very closely monitored or he is confined (and asleep).  Since my studio opens right out to the yard, we can easily take frequent breaks.   Things will take a bit before I can resume a more normal sewing schedule, but I'm loving the interruption!

DETOUR - Three Road Trips!

The first road trip took place the first weekend of August. Up through Southwestern Wisconsin & over into Minnesota, leaving on Friday afternoon and returning home on Saturday afternoon. 307 miles roundtrip.

Crossing the Mississippi River and onto the hills of Southeastern Minnesota

Secret adventure and private destination - to be revealed shortly. But it was a good trip!

Then this happened

A mid-week break to Michigan, a few days working remotely & doing some short adventures to a few favorite haunts.  I had some early morning visitors, while having my first cuppa of the day on the deck.

Finally, the last road trip was on September 2, 2017. A day that will live in infamy in this household.

Back up to Minnesota, crossing the Mississippi River in Lacrosse, Wisconsin - heading west. 

Love this bridge. 

This time it was up & back, all in one day - a VERY long day.  I didn't get home until at 9:00 pm and haven't sat at a sewing machine since then. You'll see why in the next post.  You're going to love it, I guarantee it!

Bit of Blue for a New Baby

I previous shared this on Monday, August 28th,

which became this on Thursday, August 31st.

This was the last thing that's been under my needle lately.

Made from a 5 inch square charm pack, plus one extra neutral batik, it measures 24 inches square and simply quilted in a cross hatch.

But I didn't share what happened on Sunday, August 27th, which was this

A small crate installed in the downstairs bedroom?  What ever could that be for?