Friday, January 19, 2024

I finished my Alias Grace block today – Solomon’s Temple. All I had to go on was a picture so it was a struggle to get it done. Please note I said done, not right.

I did my best to do the math but when that didn’t work I added a piece here and trimmed a bit off there. I have some large blocks in this series but this is the largest. I can cut it down a bit but right now it will be a 20” finish.

I see that I missed a few points entirely and have some of the triangles pointing the wrong way but I’m not changing it. Solomon’s Temple crumbled and my version is unlikely to stand the test of time either!

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Since my pile of library books is growing – yes, I picked up another one yesterday – I decided on the weekend that this would be a reading week. I had time to read a bit yesterday afternoon but today is the first day that I have intentionally sat down for the afternoon with a book in my hand.

This morning I took care of a couple of phone calls I needed to make and then I did a bit of tidying. I had some scraps left on the cutting table from my Community Quilt, as well as some scraps from my last Alias Grace block. When those were cleaned up I got started on the next Alias Grace block.

I was going through the bin of blocks I already had made to help me decide on a colour for this next block. I noticed that I already had one that looked very much the same as the one I thought I was supposed to be doing. I went through the book and numbered all the blocks and I was one block ahead of where I thought I should be.

I didn’t have a pattern for the King Solomon’s Temple block. I looked through my book of block patterns and didn’t find anything. I looked online and, again, no luck. That meant I had to draw it out and sort out the measurements on my own. I got the centre three rounds done and I think I have the next one figured out. King Solomon was supposedly very wise. If that were the case you would think he’d have left better instructions for his temple.

The snow has stopped and It still looks pretty outside. I’m curled up under a blanket as I read. Now, back to my book.

Monday, January 15, 2024

I was barely up in time to sign on to our cousins’ chat. A cup of coffee was all I managed after dressing and combing what little hair I have. When the call was over I needed to get a move on to get my parcel ready for today’s mail. I had a box that was the perfect size but it was full of Christmas wrapping paper and all our recycle bins are full. We’ll have extra bins to put to the curb tomorrow. I found a bigger box than I needed but cut it down (not very neatly) and I think it will hold together long enough to get to its destination.

It was almost ten before the package was wrapped and the hockey game was just starting. It was a morning game in the West because it is Martin Luther King Jr. day in the States so an afternoon game on the holiday. Pat drove me to the post office and we were home just a bit after the game started – just as the Canucks were scoring their first goal. They lost in overtime but at least got a point out of the game.

After the game it was time for me to get to the tasks I generally accomplish in the mornings. I sorted the laundry and got a load going. I sewed the binding on the quilt and got it ready to take to the Guild tomorrow. It is the middle of the month so my monthly computer clean-up was due.

I’m done all that now (except for a couple more loads of laundry) so I’m going to relax in my chair and play a few games. This was supposed to be a reading week for me but there was too much to do today – maybe tomorrow!

Sunday, January 14, 2024

I’ve made progress on projects but I don’t have anything actually done today.

I finished the quilting on the donation quilt shortly after lunch. I trimmed the edges and prepped the binding. I have enough binding to hang myself; I hope there is enough to go around the quilt. I’ll get it attached to the quilt tomorrow so I can do the hand stitching at the Guild on Tuesday.

I checked my tablecloth last night. I have two different motifs of Mum’s but the way I added them into the tablecloth looks weird. So I’ll be crocheting some more and adding another round to the whole thing; this last round will include Mum’s squares. I really wanted it to be done but I also really want to incorporate Mum’s original work into it.

I’m almost finished a library book so I’ll take the rest of the afternoon to read and perhaps I’ll get it done tonight.