The Seagull

Author: Ann Cleeves

Whew! I finished this the afternoon before it was due back at the library. And I must say I enjoyed HAVING to sit down after lunch to get it done.

There is nothing outstanding about the book – a slow and easy Scottish mystery. I really had no idea about the murderer on this one and at the end of the book there was one clue I didn’t remember so I had to go back to look for it.

This is another of the Vera Stanhope series and I can hardly wait until they are available on Netflix Canada.

Goodreads Rating * * * (I liked it)

It could have been a pyjama day

Sunday, September 9, 2018

When I got up this morning I thought I might go out and run some errands but that isn’t the way the day unfolded. It was stormy most of the day – rain and wind. Although there is a small stream of sunshine at the moment I can see the next rain shower moving in from Savary Island. I could have stayed in my PJs all day; I didn’t poke my nose out the door and the door was never even unlocked.

This being my card and block day I spent all morning prepping various projects. I did some hand stitching on a couple of cards and I finished this week’s Splendid Sampler block. That particular block involved some hand stitching, then a bit more prep work and more hand stitching. I had a quiet afternoon stitching everything.

Tonight I’m back in my sewing room piecing a card and finishing up some blocks that I started on Thursday. Once the piecing is finished I’ll have another card to quilt. And I hope to get the binding on three of the cards and get them stitched down – I have a new series lined up on Netflix!

And if I get all that finished tonight I’ll have to spend some time with my book tomorrow; I got a notice from the library today that another book that I put on hold is ready to be picked up.

Giving up the dream

Saturday, September 8, 2018

At many times in my life I’ve played instruments; when I was younger I was able to keep up with the practicing. Mum, Miss Burkowski, and Mrs. Raycroft kept me on track with piano and it was just plain fun playing and performing with Roberta and Jackie on my guitar.

As I’ve grown older I’ve tried a few other options. When one of the kids had a flute left over from school I took up lessons – for about six weeks. I wasn’t good at it and I hated to practice.

Since coming to Powell River I took up the ukulele. I took lessons, I joined a ukulele jam session but, again, I didn’t practice. My excuse for not practicing was that I couldn’t sing so it wasn’t as much fun as the jam nights, but without the practice I wasn’t up to par for the jams. I haven’t been back for at least a year, probably longer.

I sold my ukulele today and no matter what fun instrument shows up on the doorstep I’ve given up my dream of ever performing again!

We need it

Friday, September 7, 2018

After a really warm day yesterday it started to rain overnight and it really hasn’t stopped much all day – the sun certainly hasn’t been out and I’m trying not to turn on the furnace. The forecast says we have several more days of rain but I’m not complaining as we certainly need it. It would have been nicer if it had held off more than a half-day after Pat did a vinegar treatment on the weeds though!

Yesterday was busy – sewing in the afternoon and meetings in the evening. Most of yesterday morning was spent cutting fabric for my afternoon session but I also dug out the card pattern I’m hoping to make. I think the design is possible but do I have the time? The Guild meetings in the evening were good but they resulted in a bit of computer work for me.

Pretty Purple Scraps

Are those kangaroos?

We’ll be continuing this year with the Scrap blocks but they will be more coordinated this year – each month will focus on a different colour. When we were putting last year’s blocks together for Community Quilts many of the members had nightmares about the blocks that went into some of the quilts. This year at least the blocks will be in the same colour family when they are put together. They are also having a Secret Pal program; each month we’ll bring a “little something” to our Secret Pal and receive something in return; we won’t know our who our Pal is until the potluck at the end of the year. And if that isn’t enough “extra” I also picked up the Guild challenge for this year – a lovely piece of fabric that we have to add two colours to and make a bag. And just when I swore I wouldn’t make another bag!

I spent this morning getting the Cranberry Hall minutes written up and distributed. I also had a showing at the Hall mid morning and a stop at the bank on the way home. Since lunch I’ve been working on my Guild updates.

Pat went across to Texada this morning; I’m going to get busy quilting now and I’m not going to stop until I have my miniature quilt ready for binding.