Sunday, June 24, 2018

Pat and I went out for breakfast this morning. It was cloudy and rain was predicted but, other than being cool, the day was fine. When we came home I started working on the first block of the Splendid Sampler 2 series. There were a lot of things I should have been working on but I decided to take a day and do what I wanted to do. Rather than using the blocks in this sampler for cards I’ll be keeping them for myself.

Pat flew to Victoria this afternoon and, after dropping him at the airport, I stopped at the hospital to visit one of our Tuesday quilters. She’s been in hospital for a week but I hadn’t heard about it until Friday. When we were talking she said she had 400 books loaded on her e-reader; she hardly needed the “real” book I took her but she said it would be a nice change to hold a book. She’ll be there awhile so I expect I’ll be visiting again. It was pouring rain by the time I left and the rain is expected to continue tomorrow. I’m not complaining though as we really need it (and it means I can’t be expected to go out weeding!).

When I came home I worked on the second Splendid Sampler 2 block. I still have some hand sewing to do on it but I’ll get that done tonight. I’ll be back to my “have to” list tomorrow but it was a nice change to do something for myself today.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

I enjoyed our trip to Parksville yesterday; many of the vendors at the show had been at Quilt Canada so I didn’t shop much. There were a couple of shops from Courtenay present and I made purchases as each of them. I got more fabric (which I needed) for this English paper piecing project and I got a jelly roll of neutrals that I’ll use for Splendid Sampler II. All at excellent prices I might add. I wrote down the names of some of the quilt patterns I liked; I forgot to take my camera so no photos. Although I didn’t vote, this one was my favourite (photo taken from the internet).

I did a bit of yard work before we headed down to the wharf to watch the sinking of one of the Hulks. The YOGN-82 is an ocean-going concrete barge (“YO” stands for yard oiler, “G” for gasoline and “N” for no power) that, after the end of the second world war, became part of the breakwater for the Catalyst Paper Mill. The mill no longer needs as many of the hulks and four of them will be sunk off Willingdon Beach and the hope is they will become an attraction for divers.

We were at the wharf in plenty of time to watch a few tugs move the hulk into position, and then shift it to and fro for the next hour or so. It was kind of like watching paint dry but, in case there was any drama, we wanted to stay till it was sunk. The noon ferry came and went, the Texada ferry came but still no excitement. We expected a two-minute warning before the explosives went off but all of sudden we saw the small explosions and then heard the bang. It only took about five minutes to sink completely; the only excitement was when it went underwater and we saw the water bubbling as the air came out of it.

I’ve spent the afternoon sorting through more of the pieces for the quilt I want to do the handwork on. I’m on my last set of matching and cutting so the end (of this particular process) is in sight. I don’t know why I thought I was almost finished the English paper piecing – I have a whole basket full of work and it isn’t all because I changed my mind about the placement and colours.

I’ll get back to it again and, if I’m lucky, I’ll be able to sit outside and stitch after supper.