2020 In my New Quilting, Sewing & Creative Design Studio

 Oh my so much has happened since my last blog post in 2019. 2020 Happened and our world came to a numbing halt this past March with the pandemic and COVID-19. 

Saturday the 16th of November. My Phase II U-Haul ready to be unpacked

Here it is August, another birthday has passed and I'm 78 already.  Wow-what an amazing feat that is.  Well, let's catch up.  

Last November 15, 2019, I completed Phase II of my move her to Virginia. late Oct I went back to Tennesee to complete my move.  My friend Tina and I along with my daughter Elizabeth packed and moved my last 10% of my belongings. I bought a tow hitch for my daughters' car and rented a small trailer and she and my neighbor LC packed it tight. I left my Tennessee Home on November 15th about noon after saying goodbye to my neighbors, my apartment was already rented per my landlord, and off we drove.  Elizabeth in her car pulling the trailer and me in my car, both packed tight. We arrived in Virginia late that night after 11pm.  What an arduous ride.  I was very proud of my daughter, she handled the trailer like a pro.  

The weather in Nov and Dec was a dramatic change from the mild winters of Tennessee and I found it hard to adjust.  I think I spent over $500 on a new wardrobe of CuddleDuds, wool socks, and warm slippers.  every day I wore at least 3 layers of clothing which include a sweater or sweatshirt.  I even bought a new wool coat.  Christmas came and we had a lovely time being together and I started enjoying my new home and living with my daughter Nancy, her hubby Thomas and my grandaughter Zuri was a bonus.  Then January Arrived! 

Ahh, January - That's when it all began to go downhill.  I was still exhausted from the rigors of my move and trying to unpack my stuff and settle in when the Flu hit!  

Nancy came home one day from work and told us that someone there had come down with the flu. She caught it then Thomas did and then I.  Thankfully Zuri did not catch it.  Nancy & Thomas and I had gotten our flu shots at the beginning of fall but Zuri had not.  Now we don't know if it was Covid-19 or not but it was wicked.  It took me 3 weeks to recover.  

The Cold weather was a bit harsh on me and I did find it hard to adjust to it even tho we did not get snow until Jan 7th 2020.   

January 7th, 2020 it finally stopped snowing - our view from the living room window

The Temps remained in the low 20s - 30s most of the winter months with a lot of rain, wind, and only 2 snowfalls.  One in Jan and one in April. I did not get out much in this weather, on my 1st trip with Nancy and Zuri to Charlottesville I went to Cottonwood quilt shop for Thread. and while there signed up for the bus trip to the Quilt Show in February.  

February I joined the Charlottesville Quilt Guild and attended my 1st meetings at the Crozet chapter on the 2nd and 4th Mondays. I went to the Quilt show on the 27th. and met some lovely ladies on the bus a few of them belonged to the quilt guild. while there I tested out some sit down long arm FMQ machines and I liked the Bernina Q20 that was being sold from the Cottonwood Quilt Shop.  I was able to buy it  and I waited for its delivery. It was delivered the week before The Pandemic Order for "Shelter in Place" was ordered by our Virginia Governor.

My Bernina Q20 has Arrived

 - My Q20Berninna all set up and ready to go.

My Bernina Q20 FMQ  Longarm 

 I'm doing some Free Motion Quilting on a table mat

A Door Banner for March

my Door Hanging

 March came in like a lamb and I was able to attend my 2nd Quilt Guild Meeting on the 9th by then Covid-19 was in the news and the pandemic had started.  On Friday the 13th Nancy, Zuri and I went out to a local brewery for hamburgers and wine coolers, little did we know that it would be our last restaurant visit for several months.  On the 14th the Governor of Virginia ordered a "Shelter in Place" and everything shut down. We were in Quarantine mode and fearful.  

Nancy began working from home, Thomas & Zuri were deemed essential workers, he at the grocery store and she at the nursing home.  Worry for them both set in and we lived in fear and prayer for thier safety daily.  Ordering Groceries online for pickup became the norm, wearing a mask out in public became the norm, staying home became my norm.   

I began sewing masks for myself to wear to my next IV Therapy appointment and then masks for Nancy, Thomas, and Zuri to wear to work or when out getting essential needed groceries and such.  Life had Narrowed Down to just our home on the hill in Nellysford Virginia, our safe haven in this pandemic storm.  

Suddenly I was making masks for all the family and then friends and acquaintances started ordering masks and our quilting was asking for maks for the hospital.  I was in the Mask making business all of the Sudden. 

This was our new "NORMAL" thru May.