Thursday, January 4, 2024

Look what happened while we were away!

The bulbs are up in two more of the containers, not counting the new garlic planting.

January 1, 2024

I made no resolutions last year and it turned out okay, and there was nothing to feel guilty about at the end of the year. I spent some time in the last days of 2023 to inventory most, not all, of the projects that I really would like to get done. Some have been started and I’d like to get them finished but some are just wishful thinking.

I’ll take part again in the monthly UFO quilting challenge. My chart last year showed three sections – piecing, quilting, and scrappy. As I look at the list from last year there were only 12 items that either disappeared from the list entirely (because they were finished) or moved forward to another list. I think this year I will stick to only one list but hope that each month I can accomplish a little more than the one item.

I have plenty of items to choose from but these are the ones that will go on my UFO chart. I look forward every month to see what my project will be.

Sunday, December 31, 2023

I didn’t make any resolutions for this year so there was no way I would miss my marks. Smart move on my part! I’m glad to see that I wasn’t entirely idle all year.

Books

35 books read. That surpasses the goal I set out in Goodreads.

Needlework/Knit/Crochet

8 projects finished but I’m not telling how many others were started!

Quilting

I finished 10 projects thanks, in the most part, to the monthly sewing sessions with Stacia and Deloise.

Cards

I cut down a lot on my birthday cards this year but I still managed to send off 52 cards. Many of those were Christmas cards that I sent, particularly to those whose birthdays I missed.

Postage

Someone once asked me how much I spend on postage because I’m ALWAYS at the post office. This year’s total is over $2,500, but I consider it money well-spent as it is the cost of living so far away from family. That is still less than the amount I spent on travel.

Sunday, December 24, 2023

I think we’ve been to the grocery store at least three times thinking it was our last trip. Pat was there again this morning for cranberry sauce for the turkey and chutney for the tourtiere! By this afternoon it won’t matter what we’ve forgotten it will be too late.

I really enjoyed our concert last night. We dressed warmly as we expected to be standing outside for a bit before the doors opened. We were the second couple there and were able to wait inside the door. As soon as we got seated we started shedding layers. Both Pat and I saw people from various groups we are involved in.

The performers sang some old favourites but in new arrangements. Can you imagine O Holy Night or Silent Night with a swinging feel? Both came off quite lovely. Every year they seem to come up with Christmas songs that I’ve never heard. I was sorry Silent Night wasn’t the final number; singing that at the end of a concert reminds me of Christmas Eve services at home.

I’ve got a load of laundry in the machine and one more to go. I’ll make my tourtiere this afternoon and then we really will be ready!