Sunday, November 7, 2021

Because of the time change I was awake at five this morning; not unusual had it been six (the way it was yesterday) but five was just too early to start my day. I didn’t sleep much after that but I dozed on and off until about six-thirty when I got up. I warmed up a coffee from yesterday and headed upstairs to check my mail.

Much to my surprise I had an invitation to book my Covid Booster. I’ll get it tomorrow first thing and Pat will get his just a couple of hours later (he slept in longer than I did). This is a bit earlier than we thought it would be but I’m not complaining. We’re in good shape now for our trip to Calgary for Christmas (tickets are already booked).

I finished my Hallowe’en block last night and moved on to the free pattern my friend gave me. I thought it was another Hallowe’en block but it doesn’t have to be. The pattern was from a Hallowe’en project Gail was working on but since the block is a cat it doesn’t necessarily have to be Hallowe’en. Things were going great, except for a couple of spots where I stitched pieces to the wrong side of other pieces. They didn’t take long to fix and I moved on to the next page of the pattern. I got a couple of seams together and realized I was missing two blocks that I needed to complete the bottom half. I looked online but it was a pattern Gail purchased so I’ll have to wait and see if I can get the missing section from her.

Since I couldn’t go any further on that project I moved on to what was going to be my Tuesday project – a Remembrance Day table topper. This might be the simplest pattern I’ve ever made and I think if I sew tomorrow I’ll have the top finished. I’m glad it’s easy because I plan to use the same pattern for my Guild Challenge.

I had time to put in eight stitches on my new cross stitch project this morning while I waited for a fresh pot of coffee to finish. I think for the rest of the afternoon I’ll continue working on it.

Saturday, November 6, 2021

I spent most of the morning working on Pat’s accounting. He sent me the information I needed a few days ago but I kept putting it off. I’m not sure if I thought the accounting fairies would come and do it for me or if I thought maybe my computer would break and I couldn’t do it at all. Neither of those things happened and I’m caught up for the time being.

I ran a few errands this morning. I dropped my iPads at Staples and they will recycle them. I asked what they did with them and apparently almost everything inside them can be recycled – including what the tech said was a surprising amount of gold. Were I smarter I might have tried to find the gold myself but I was so done with those two gadgets.

I dropped a book at the library and put a Hall deposit through the slot at the bank. When Covid started I began to use the night deposit slot rather than going into the bank. I found it so much easier that I won’t stop – none of the lineups and waits that I used to run into if I went when tellers were on their lunch breaks or on days when the government cheques came out.

I really intended to get something done this afternoon but I’ve not accomplished much. I finished up my Hallowe’en sampler yesterday so I put all the floss away and then immediately pulled out another project. It is so easy to do a few stitches here and there during the day while I wait for something else that, eventually, I’m able to get the project done.

I have a Hallowe’en block sandwiched and my machine is set up and ready for some quilting. I actually have a plan for this block so I’ve convinced myself that I’m not behind I’m way, way ahead.

Friday, November 5, 2021

Where have I been for the past week? Right here but very busy.

I spent the better part of three days sewing with Stacia and Deloise. I finished two projects so it was a productive time. I also got in a visit to the Guild’s new meeting and sewing place. It is lovely, very large, with a full commercial kitchen should we ever want to get creative with our lunches on Tuesday. But why would we? Word is that some of the quilters on Tuesday ordered lunch from upstairs (the main part of the Legion) and it was delivered to their sewing tables! We are also fully licensed so, no doubt, there will be drinks purchased upstairs and brought down to further liven our evening meetings. I managed to squeeze in my flu shot between sewing sessions; absolutely no reaction but I didn’t expect any.

I was looking forward to a visit with our friends from the Island on Thursday but the weather didn’t cooperation – again! The ferries were running, although late, but the rain was coming down in sheets and the water was very choppy so it wouldn’t have been a pleasant ride across. We’ll look for a block of good weather and clear calendars so we can get together soon.

Since I didn’t have visitors I was able to get the cutting instructions out for the mystery I’m running for the Guild and I went to my Thursday sewing group. Last night was our monthly Guild meeting; we had a good turnout, probably because everyone wanted to see the new space.

One of the things I’ve been trying to do for ages was clear off all the data on one of my old iPads. Yesterday Gail suggested a way her son-in-law clears hers off. It involved putting a paperclip into one of the spots on the iPad. I was skeptical and I’d never take computer advice from Gail. I did a bit of research, found nothing that involved a paperclip but found a way to do it through my computer. The biggest problem though was that the keyboard on the iPad hardly worked. With enough patience I was able to clear it. I will follow Gail’s advice that Staples can recycle it. I have my second iPad (even older) charging and I’m hoping I can get it cleared off as well.

This morning I cleared up some paperwork and decided to get ready for the next mystery clue. But when I read the instructions I knew I had done something wrong as my fabrics weren’t matching up with the instructions. I sent off a flurry of messages (to both the designer and the Guild members) but as I waited for replies I realized it was my interpretation of the instructions that was wrong. That led to another flurry of messages (to the designer and the Guild members). I have all my fabrics sorted now and I’m ready to start sewing at our next Thursday session; neither Gail nor Jessie are involved in the Guild so I don’t have to keep the secret from them.

After such an exciting morning it’s time to step away from my sewing and computer. I’m going to go downstairs and finish my October stitch-along. If seasonal is my thing this week I’m behind. Not only do I have the cross stitch to finish but I also found a calendar block done in Hallowe’en fabrics that needs to be sandwiched and quilted. Gail gave me a copy of a block in a Hallowe’en project she is making; it involves some interesting techniques so I’d like to try it. And if I manage to get past Hallowe’en I have a Remembrance Day project cut out and ready for stitching.

October 31, 2021

I found a package of “melty beads”; the non-dollar store brand would have been called Perler beads.

I looked for and found some Hallowe’en images online and was able to copy them although I had to change a few of the colours in order to make the patterns work with the beads I had.

I remember the images as being more bead-looking. Perhaps I melted them too long or maybe it is the cheaper quality of the beads.