Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Home quarantine stitching

I am in Day 11 of my 14 day quarantine.  I have heard mixed messages and strong opinions about whether or not we are allowed to take walks, and so I haven't.  But.... the view from my living room never looked so good...  I am so happy for it and for the sunshine streaming in.  


David (who is out of quarantine now) went to the post office this morning as a favor to send something to a young friend in the U.S.  We warned that the item would take 3-4 months to arrive, but alas they are allowing air mail again!  I don't know when that started, but this means that I will realistically be able to send small care packages to my kids later in the fall or for Christmas.  

David also mentioned that it is hot hot hot out there.   It is 91 degrees and "feels like" 100 according to my weather app. 

This is my current stitching - a block from Barbara Brackman's Ladies's Aid New York sampler - 


I'm using the back basting method on these blocks:  


This flag block is the ONLY block I worked on during my month in the U.S.  Ha ha, I brought so much handwork and just brought it all back home undone. 


Yesterday was our 31st anniversary.  I distinctly remember last year thinking that by August 2021, Covid would be behind us (collectively as a world community).  Not so.    Delta is spreading like wildfire in Tokyo and the hospitals are strained.  




This is the required app that we use to check in, report our health (no fever or other symptoms) and receive a video call once a day, at a random time, which verifies that we are quarantining properly.   Sometimes we get a random message to please click "I'm here" so that they (who is "they"???) can verify that we are home.  


Do you see the tatami mats on my floor?  I purchased two mats to put in our living area, and it is so nice to have something natural in the apartment ("the plastic palace") and something soft and real underfoot when I sit on the couch doing handwork.   

I put out my blocks last night just to admire, lol.  I think this will be a soft sweet quilt. 



xo
Cynthia 

17 comments:

  1. I'll bet that view looks good after having none during isolation. But sorry you aren't comfortable taking walks due to the uncertainty.
    Your blocks are very pretty--and I really relate to taking lots of handwork when traveling and getting so little (if any) done.
    I got a kick out of "the plastic palace". :)
    The roses are gorgeous--peachy/pinky roses are my favorites. Congrats on your anniversary!

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  2. Love your blocks, the light blue looks so fresh. Taking a walk must be great after quarentine, soon you can.

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  3. The fabrics in these blocks are perfect! They look so soft.
    That app looks serious! What do they do if someone doesn’t have a phone?
    I still haven’t tried to mail anything to the US, but I would like to. Did your husband print the label at home or at the post office?

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    1. You have to rent a smart phone at the airport if you don't already have one! He printed it at the post office. There's an online account you have to create. They help you at the post office and there's a little machine that prints the label.

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  4. Your soft blue blocks are looking very pretty..it must be difficult to be inside a hotel room for so long...only a few more days...hugs, Julierose

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  5. Your quilt blocks are so softly beautiful, they're going to make a wonderfully delicate quilt. We have been reading recently that the J&J "one and done" vaccine is performing very well against the delta variant. I think you wrote earlier that you were able to get that vaccine when you were stateside? Lovely anniversary flowers, congratulations on 31 years together, and wishing you many more!

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  6. So happy to hear your quarantine is almost over AND has been uneventful! The soft, faded look for your Ladies Aid blocks is delightful!

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  7. I had to laugh when you mentioned the "Plastic Palace". I'm glad you have something organic to put your feet upon. It is 57 degrees today instead of the usual 90 something. We've had quite a storm the last two days, so welcome, but the temps will climb back up by the weekend. Your blocks look so charming together. And you'll always remember that you appliqued the flag while you were in the USA.

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  8. Happy Anniversary! At 91 degrees outside I think I'd be inside anyway, quarantine or not! I hate the heat the older I get. Isn't it supposed to be the opposite?Anyway, I'm glad your time inside is ending soon. It will feel good to be outside in a few days. Love the quilt, the color blue is so pretty! I love the flag block! Stay safe, Jan in MA

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  9. Your Ladies Aid blocks look great--love the soft colors you are using. I wish they an app to track people here--it's like the Wild West! We have a pretty low vaccine rate in our county and lots of anti maskers. Crazy!

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  10. The colors of your quilt blocks are so soft, just love that look! Wish you were able to know for sure about the walks. Sunshine is the best.:)

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  11. I've been following your posts about your U.S. visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time with your family. So happy for you! One advantage of being in quarantine is you get to sew a lot. Your Ladies Aid blocks are so appealing. Love those soft colors!

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  12. Such lovely blocks... so glad you are feeling well enough for stitching! Such a hard journey!

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  13. I really like the look of the blocks you are making. That is going to be a wonderful quilt.

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  14. Your BB sew along blocks are just lovely. I like the blue hearts.
    Happy Anniversary! What gorgeous flowers. Pretty color.
    Yes, I had hoped too we would out of covid. At least in Japan they are trying to control it, if not perfectly. Here they are fighting about kids wearing masks. What a mess. Truly a mess.
    I am not entirely sure why if you are vaccinated you have such a stringent quarantine protocol. as I said, at they are trying.

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  15. Glad you are getting through the quarantine. Yes it is terribly hot even in Nikko and I would imagine even hotter in Tokyo.

    Covid is getting scary and we stay close to home. I'm a bit more careful than my husband who has cabin fever, but if one of us gets it, both of us will get it, I'm sure.

    I sent something off to my daughter at the beginning of June and it still hasn't arrived. Another month or two (or more?)

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  16. So, I guess if I want to mail a package, I have to take it to Roppongi to get the thing printed out. No printer and no help either here in my area. The little blocks are so sweet. Back when we moved to NJ, we took some tatami mats to that house. Sometimes carpets just don't make the grade.

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