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.

Thursday, June 21, 2018

I’ve had a busy day. I spent the morning picking weeds; there was a nice breeze so it felt quite cool all the time I was out. In fact I had to put a rock in the bottom of my weed pail to keep it weighted to the ground (before it was full of weeds of course). Pat sprayed the patio, sidewalks and driveway with the vinegar treatment a few days ago and I was pulling out the dead (or dying) weeds. I managed to finish the bottom patio but there is still a lot to do. By the time I’m done pulling it will probably be time to do another spray; the beds aren’t getting done but everything looks better-kept with the obvious weeds out of the bricks.

After a quick shower and lunch I was off to my afternoon sewing group. We’re still working on the bag; let me rephrase that – I’m still working on the bag. Jessie is still away (and will be for another two weeks), and Gail was puttering, looking through catalogues and checking shops online. I’m still at least a couple of weeks away from being done. I’ve spent two weeks quilting all the bits and pieces and I have at least another week of that left. Gail says once the quilting is done it will go together quite quickly.

I barely had time to switch my potato salad from the Safeway container into a bowl before I was off to the Guild’s potluck supper – our year-end party. They are always a lot of fun and this was the “Show and Tell” for the placemat challenge. There were 23 placemats tonight and everyone said that was the best participation they had seen for a long time. I didn’t win any prizes but I got a small folding box for participating in the UFO Challenge – I finished four of my six projects but all I got was a participation prize! Not complaining as I could have come home with nothing.

I’m off again tomorrow morning on the first ferry. I was invited to join three other ladies on a road trip to the Parksville Quilt Show. I’m looking forward to seeing a show but I don’t plan to make any purchases – unless of course I see something really special!