Winter Solstice 2011

Far side of CM Villa

December 21? 
This cannot be - Christmas is only four days away and sister Jan's birthday is only two days away!  Help!

Today is the Winter Solstice, or as the Romans knew it, Saturnalia -a time for feasting.  As yesterday was Tuesday I stopped at the construction site of our new villa at the CCRC - this is the back side of our villa (#s 21 and 22 are duplexes). The doors and windows are in - the roofing is mostly on and we should be reviewing the electrical in the next few days.

That given - one of our aims this month was to meet the new neighbors. Our "roof mates,"  Dorothy and Jules invited us to dinner last month at their home in Fearrington Village. The next duplex will be Marilyn and Bev, villas #23 & 24. To get acquainted the four of us are having coffee tomorrow at Carolina Meadows in the Cafe just after the Flexercise class. To that end I thought having a memento of the new start would be fitting so I made each of us matching mug rugs.

Leaf quilt detail

Making 6 x 9 mug rugs is easy; once your have thought through a half-dozen other ideas, tried one sample, meshed around some batt and then decided to start all over again. Thinking applique the notion of a leaf seemed fitting - since we will all be moving in 2012 and "turning over a new leaf." (?) 

Once committed the four leaves worked out in green plaids and then reversed to a diagonal string-pieced over a dryer sheet. Yes, I'm still on the dryer sheet method but with my current stash  I think I can resist saving them for the next few weeks.

Leaf side reverses to diagonals

Given the size, shaping the leaf was the detail part - getting enough of a curve to look realistic (if indeed plaid), and stitching for dimensional stability. Using fusible backing, ironing in place and then stitching like mad for four days - all four are done and ready to go.

Of the four of us Bev and I have been doing the Flexercise class on a semi-regular basis to get used to the environment. Something tells me that Dorothy and Marilyn will not be regulars but may be doing the Aquacise class instead. With an extended campus and fitness center there are classes for every fitness level.

Speaking of which - time for the Wellness Wednesday Aquacise - got to run. bbf