Updates...

Hmmm... At the continued urging of my co-workers (who are tired of hearing me cough), I went to an after-hours clinic on Friday. Diagnosis? Allergies. Duh ;) I knew going in there wasn't really anything anyone could do for me, unless there was an underlying issue that I was assuming was allergy-related but wasn't. Luckily -- and unluckily, I guess! -- I was right. I did get enough samples of my everyday allergy medicine to get me back to Rochester next weekend when I can get my Rx refilled. (My so-called "national network" insurance is, well, not.)

I did some work today on my little quilt for Kate's swap. It's slow going -- paper piecing 3" blocks is not for the faint of heart (or those in a hurry!). There's plenty of time to make this little darling; I was just surprised that it took 75 minutes to chain piece four blocks! I'd give you a sneak peek, but that would require me to know where the cord is for the camera! I've got half the blocks made now, and everything cut for the remaining ones, so maybe I'll be able to move a little more quickly. (I prefer to paper piece the Carol Doak way, where you trim firm, then stitch; it makes pre-cutting very easy and accurate, and wastes less fabric as a result.)

I also fused this month's block in our year-long Birthday Block Swap on quilting.about.com. It's not exactly as I imagined it, but it'll do. Miss April requested 9" blocks to make a village; mine's just a house, but it's kind of cute. (Doesn't your house have a brown and pink homespun plaid roof?!) Again with the camera cord... Now I have to figure out what kind of stitching it needs to keep it together. Not quite sure this one's going to make it in the mail by April 30, but I'll do my level best tomorrow!