Friday, December 18, 2020

We were warned that we were in for a storm and it arrived right on time. The Texada ferry ran earlier today because I saw it at seven when I was making coffee and again about nine when I went down for a second cup. The ferry to Comox isn’t running either; I’m not sure whether or not it ran first thing in the morning.

I’ve had another no-pressure day unless you consider deciding what to bake and what knitting/crochet pattern I should use pressure.

Last night I started a crocheted afghan but wasn’t even finished the first row before I knew it wouldn’t work for me. There were about seven rows in the pattern and, since we were watching a show with sub-titles, I needed something simpler. I found a knitted afghan pattern that was easy enough to follow but after a few rows I decided I didn’t really like it. I’ve found another crochet pattern that repeats one row over and over; I hope it works out or I may go back to making hats.

I intended to make Nanaimo Bars today. I purchased all the ingredients at the last shop and even told Pat that was what I was making. There wasn’t a recipe in Mum’s cookbook but I recalled she had a Mincemeat Muffin recipe and that I still had half a jar of mincemeat in the fridge. Instead of the muffins though I made an Oatmeal Mincemeat Square. It looks a lot like a Matrimonial Cake but with mincemeat in the middle rather than dates. I looks and smells good; we’ll know for sure when we have dessert tonight.

Thursday, December 17, 2020

The sun came back today after being “away” for a long time. I haven’t heard the mouse singing but had it been in the right spot I’m sure it would have been.

While we were having lunch we were watching a couple, maybe three, humpback whales. A couple of the spouts were really close in and close together; the other was much further out. We never actually saw two spouts at the same time on the close in ones so we’re not sure. I guess they were enjoying the sun too.

Pat had an update from the doctor today and he says Pat should be walking half an hour a day. I didn’t need a call from the doctor to know that I should be doing that as well. After lunch we went out and walked the sea walk; there were lots of people out enjoying the sun as well.

I finished my hat last night (pictured here with another ball of yarn as stuffing). It is a very soft bamboo yarn and I love the swirls in the pattern. Tonight I’ll start an afghan; I’m hoping it will use up the yarn more quickly than the hats I’ve been making. We’re watching a show with sub-titles so I may not be able to crochet as we watch.

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

I have a great light next to my chair in the basement and I can see really well to stitch while we watch TV in the evening. I’ve struggled to find a light that works as well next to my chair in the living room.

We bought a set of lights a couple of years ago that are very pretty but there are only a couple of them that provide much useful light. One is in the studio on Texada and the other one hangs over the stairwell and lights the stairs as we go up and down.

We’ve used one of the other lights next to my chair but the light from the two bulbs just doesn’t reach far enough. I feel like I’m working and/or reading in the dark or, if we switch the light to the other side of the chair, I’m working in my own shadow.

A couple of weeks ago when the days really seemed to be dark in the afternoon I said enough is enough and I order a new light. It is the same light as we have downstairs so it should provide me with all the light I need.

The light arrived today and we have it set up. Pat had to help as my wrists just didn’t allow me to screw all the pieces together. I’ll have to take an early break from sewing tomorrow so I can test it out.

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Sometimes coming up with a title is the trickiest part of this journal, particularly when it was a routine day without any surprises.

I got a lot of computer work done this morning; I have a number of task reminders that come up at the middle of the month. We had a grocery order delivered early this afternoon. I thought about going to the store but decided there was no need to put myself at any risk so had them delivered. We’ll likely do an in-person shop before Christmas to pick our own veggies for our dinner.

I finished another clue in my Guild mystery. This clue, number 6, was actually intended as the final clue but I’ve decided to split it into two parts. The final clue will be now be released in April so there will still be lots of time for the participants to get the quilt top done before the June show-and-tell in whatever form that might take.

I didn’t have any luck at the post office yesterday so I brought my package back home. I’ll go again towards the end of the week. It isn’t a Christmas gift so it doesn’t need to compete with the Christmas parcels already in the mail stream.

Pat has a meeting tonight and I think I’ll read. I’m ready to move on to another story but I’m only halfway through this book. I made some progress on the knitted hat but noticed as I was finishing up last night that I have a split stitch so I want to take it back and get it done correctly. I don’t know why I’m fussing so much with this particular hat. I love the yarn I’m using and it is a really nice pattern but it will, when finished, be a donation.