Monday, January 15, 2018

I finished my knitting project last night. In spite of the fact that I had several other things in the line-up I started on something completely different.

I was chatting with a friend at our last house concert about the various craft sales that went on before Christmas. She was lamenting that she couldn’t find the simple things – like a pair of slippers. She showed me how hers were almost falling apart and I decided I’d make her a new pair as a surprise at the next concert. The ones she was wearing were done with granny squares and I found a similar pattern. I did enough squares for one slipper last night, and I made a start on the second one. I had to wait until today though to watch a YouTube video to figure out how to sew the squares together.

I was upstairs in my studio when the ladies from Citizen Jane stopped in. They were on their way back from Texada and had a bit of time before catching the noon ferry to the Island and then heading off to Victoria for the night. We were happy to see them again and we are all hoping they can come back in the summer – their plans are tentative right now. They are anxious to see Pat’s studio.

I caught up completely on my Guild projects today. The row by rows that we are doing all portray some aspect of Powell River. The November row was an ocean view (with whales and a lighthouse) and January’s was of Willingdon Beach. I’m not really enjoying the process – my colour choices aren’t the best and I don’t like appliqué work. I definitely have the Willingdon Beach block reversed but unless you’ve been there (and seen the huge trees by the stage) you might not notice. We are still waiting for the author of the December block to bring us her instructions!

With those taken care of I decided it was time to settle on my Guild Challenge; since I put out the challenge I can hardly skip it. I’m going to do a Summer Solstice block (because our Pot Luck is on the 21st of June) in either an Emerald Green or Eggplant Purple. My quilting motif will be a Morning’s Glory (hopefully I can pull it off). The challenge was to make a placemat using a block, a colour and a quilting motif that match your initials. I also dug out the pattern for my March miniature – what I make for the miniature meeting will also serve as one of the give-aways at the Cranberry Hall Members Appreciation event. We’re up to almost 100 members as of Saturday night so I’ll have to find a few more quick things to make.

I’m off now to pack up for the bee tomorrow.

Sunday, January 14, 2018

We had a sell-out crowd at the concert last night but, as I expected, it was a late night. Our concession sales weren’t as high as usual – I blame that on the fact that I used store-bought cookies rather than home baked. My bundt cake didn’t start selling until intermission – next time I’ll cut a couple of pieces from the cake at the beginning as once one piece was sold we sold quite a bit more. Pat and I stayed to clean up the Hall after the show. When we got home we visited a bit but at midnight, when two more instruments came out, I excused myself and went to bed; I enjoyed listening to the music they were making until I fell asleep though. The women were off to Texada on the noon ferry and I told Pat I planned to knit for the rest of the day.

The first mistake I made in following that plan was coming upstairs. I sorted out last night’s deposit for the bank, paid a couple of my own bills, and took care of a bit of Cranberry Hall business. Yesterday afternoon I made a start on a Guild project; because I wanted to clear the work away I spent some time finishing it off this afternoon.

So I’m ready now for some knitting. I am almost finished another Prayer Shawl and I have three other projects in line – a Messy Bun hat for Taylor (anyone else want one?), some Twinkle Star baskets, and a baby blanket for a friend we just heard is expecting in the Spring.

Saturday, January 13, 2018

I was so busy yesterday I didn’t get around to my usual post. I started my morning at Cranberry Hall doing the cleaning and I didn’t finish my day until almost six when the cake I made for tonight’s concession was finished.

I was up early to finish some last minute prep work for our house guests, and then I was off for a two-hour QiGong session. I’m not going to be able to make any of the eight-week sessions this semester; with the class I had today (and the accompanying booklet) I’ll be able to follow the practice at home – at least that is my plan. There was a full house at the session this morning, and I knew several of the folks.

Our guests were here by the time I got home – both seem like very nice women. I was a little blasé about running the Concession tonight; I think my thoughts were that I’d done it so often there was nothing I needed to particularly think about. Wrong! I’ve bought the cream (and put a note on my bag so I’ll remember to take it) and I bought some cookies and fruit. I’ve remembered to pack the napkin holder and I took the coffee and tea pots with me this morning. Until Pat asked about change for tickets I had completely forgotten I needed a float. I’m hoping I either have it all packed, or I’ll still have time this afternoon to remember anything else I need. I’ll head off to the Hall shortly after six so that the Concession is ready by the time the doors open.

Our guests had heard about our Townsite beer so Pat went out to the liquor store on his way to sound check this afternoon. No doubt it will be another late night.

Thursday, January 11, 2018

I don’t think I should plan my days ahead of time. I knew today I wanted to start my cleaning (for concert performers this weekend) and it was my first hand stitching session in such a long time. Although I got everything done as planned, it wasn’t exactly what I thought I’d be doing.

I woke up at 4:30 this morning with my plan for the day (and for the next few days) running through my head; I gave myself an hour to go back to sleep and then I got up. I was at my computer and had a lovely “chat” with Alex before he left for school. I managed to finish up the Guild work I didn’t get to yesterday, as well as clear out a few things from my personal in basket. I filed my project book pages and set out my hand stitching bin for the afternoon.

Once Pat was up I headed downstairs to get started cleaning. We decided to move the treadmill from the front entrance so when I use it I’ll be able to watch the TV. It hasn’t had much use since it was moved to the entrance so it was piled with a number of boxes and bins. Pat cleared out enough of them that we were able to start moving; first it had to go outside in order to be turned around enough to get it back inside. When we pulled up the rubber mat under the treadmill there were a number of stains on the concrete floor. Once we had the treadmill in place (and that wasn’t an easy task) I got out my scrubbing tools; one pass with the scrub brush to remove the dirt, a second pass with the scrub brush and some bleach, and a third pass with some Lysol wipes (for their anti-bacterial powers). The floor came out remarkably clean and I’ll finish the rest of it tomorrow.

Once that was all taken care of I did the cleaning I originally planned; made the bed, cleaned and scrubbed the bathroom and did the vacuuming. It was almost noon when I finished but I was please that I’d done all the extra work plus what I had originally planned.

I had my project ready to go for hand stitching but at the last minute I changed my mind. I was going to sew some Farmer’s Wife pieces together but decided I wanted something that would take less concentration. I have a bag of leftover yarn sitting in the middle of one of my rooms; I was going to pass it along to one of the fibre groups but decided there was enough of a few colours that I could make an afghan. I’d been looking at a crocheted Granny Strip blanket but it called for a chain that was a multiple of three plus two and I didn’t think I’d ever be able to get the numbers counted and right – especially while visiting. I found another pattern for a corner to corner granny square afghan so, with crochet hook in hand, I headed out.

It took me a few tries to get the pattern figured out but I’m almost a dozen rows into it now. It is very relaxing, I can visit while I do it, and I’m liking the combination of colours I’ve picked. It will be my Thursday project for the next while, although Gail and I are thinking about working on a quilting project that makes use of all her cutting dyes. She has several and she’s hardly used them. It is just the two of us now so plenty of room in her studio for a couple of machines.

I think I’ll head downstairs now and see how the treadmill actually works now that it is in its new spot!