Saturday, August 25, 2018

We woke up to rain this morning – it’s been a long time. I could almost see the grass reaching up to get every last drop. Although it has been cloudy for most of the day I don’t think we got any great amount; as the farmer’s would say we need a two-day soaker!

It’s a good thing I decided not to go to the show at the Hall last night – because the show at the Hall is tonight. Now I have to decide all over again whether or not to go. I’m trying to get another block stitched; I probably won’t get it done in time to head out for the show and I’d really like to get it finished. On the other hand there is a bit of decision-making that needs to be made on a Board matter and since I seem to be the only dissenting voice I don’t want the rest of the Board to think I’m avoiding them. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Remember the 50-50 money I won at the Roots and Blues Festival? I spent some of it today on a new pillow. When Pat and I got the bed for Texada we also bought two pillows that are meant for side sleepers; they have a recessed spot for your shoulder to fit into while your neck stays supported. Mine was even lavender scented. Pat bought one for home but we already had so many pillows I didn’t think I should go out and buy another one.

One day at quilting someone said that pillows should be thrown out after two years; I don’t know who made that rule but I expect it’s true if you use the same pillow every night for two years. So I ordered another lavender-scented pillow for myself for home. I picked it up today (it was on back order) and I have enough of my winnings left to pay my Guild dues for the upcoming year. I’ll make a cover for some of my older pillows and donate them to the SPCA.

Now back to that block and then a decision on the Hall event.

Friday, August 24, 2018

Yesterday we woke up to smoke-free sunshine – the first time in a long time that we were able to see the mountains on Vancouver Island. The temperature is cool and it feels like fall though. I understand that much of our smoke has blown to the east and I guess family and friends are still suffering.

I had my regular stitching date yesterday afternoon; I finished two blocks on my Bloom quilt. I hoped to get a third one done but I realized as I was putting the final seams together that I had done the first step wrong. I couldn’t even rip it out to make it right so I bundled everything up and came home. It was a quick turn-around to get back out the door for my 100+ Women Who Care meeting. This is the first time I’ve struggled with who to vote for; in the end neither of my choices came out the winner!

Having a second clear day was a bonus. This morning, as I stood looking out the patio doors I saw whales out by the ferry dock; we watched them (without the telescope) for about ten minutes before the ferry and boat traffic drove them under. I’m sure these are the same two humpbacks I’ve been seeing when I go back and forth across to Texada.

We were out grocery shopping early and yes, we did purchase enough to qualify for our $20 gift card. I’ve spent time this afternoon stitching a Farmer’s Daughter block together. The smaller centre pieces go together quickly and even the corner pieces aren’t bad. But when I’m putting it all together I find my hands cramp up and I have to sew a little and then take a break. At this rate it is slow going but every stitch counts I guess.

We have a show at the Hall tonight; I checked with the various people and they seem to have everything covered so I’m staying home.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Before Pat’s surgery he did some trimming and pruning on the bushes in the yard – I’m not to be trusted with mechanical snippers! I delayed picking up the piles but the weather forecast says we might get rain tomorrow so I decided I’d better get them bundled up before they got wet and nasty. I had a showing at the Hall at 11 AM so I couldn’t follow my usual “first thing in the day and get it done” schedule.

While I waited for my appointment yesterday afternoon I paced the Hall and deck – back and forth, back and forth. But today while I waited I decided to pull a few weeds from the lawn; I didn’t actually pull the weeds, I pulled the flowers and stems in the hope that they wouldn’t all go to seed. I don’t know what the weeds are called and I couldn’t even identify them online. They are tall, stringy things that my push mower couldn’t handle and they grow well, like weeds, in the grass all over town. We have the Hall grass mowed once a month but these weeds were making it look uncared for; I pulled almost a bag full before my appointment arrived. She was late and we took only about five minutes as she has rented the Hall before. After she left I finished my task.

As soon as I got home I started to work on our own yard. The first pile of clippings didn’t quite fill the bag so I did a bit of weeding in one of the side beds and along the bricks, making my way to the second pile. The second pile was quite a bit bigger than the first so it took longer and I needed to do a lot more clipping. My hands and wrists are suffering now but, if the rain comes, at least the piles are dealt with.

And everyone is really hoping the rain arrives. We are still smothered in smoke and small particles of ash, and we really need the rain. I’ve been hearing sirens all day and every time one goes by I hope that it isn’t a wildfire. I worry a lot about the boulevard beside our house; we are on a direct line between the 7-Eleven and a couple of bars and one discarded cigarette could be disastrous.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Remember my plan to try and get three Farmer’s Daughter blocks done in a week? I don’t think that is realistic. At the bee today, by the time lunch rolled around, I only had part of one block done – maybe half. After lunch I didn’t even get that far on a second block.

I would normally do one block at a time but since I’m distracted and interrupted (for photos) at the bee I decided to do the easier sewing on each of the blocks. The plan worked well, but it is just slower than I thought it would be. I won’t give up though and I’ll work on those blocks during the week and over the weekend. I find this particular bit of hand sewing doesn’t work well in the evenings though. This will be my Tuesday project for … well probably forever!

I have a showing at the Hall later this afternoon so I’ll need to watch my time while I prepare the Guild’s blog.