Monday, November 23, 2020

My last package from amazon arrived today – a day earlier than scheduled but I’m not complaining. There is no excuse now for not getting my 12-Days of Christmas packages into the mail in plenty of time for the start.

I finished quilting my cards today. There are quite a few ends that need to be tied in and hidden but I’ll do that this evening. Pat has an online AGM tonight so I’ll be on my own for a couple of hours.

I managed to get another block of my Limoncello project quilted. I haven’t made a lot of progress on this UFO and the month is ending soon. I’d like to get one more block quilted so I can test out the quilt-as-you-go technique I’m planning. The technique involves a lot of hand stitching but my knitting and crocheting projects will be delivered by the end of the month so it will be something to do in the evenings.

Pat has also been online most of the afternoon and I’m responsible for dinner tonight. We’re having chicken for the main course; I’m not sure if we have anything else to go along with it but I’ll see what’s in the freezer. We’re having apple crisp for dessert so I’d better get all this cooking started.

Sunday, November 22, 2020

I slept until almost nine this morning; I couldn’t believe the time when I woke up. And none of that waking and dozing, waking and dozing, I slept soundly all the way through.

I did a bit of work in the sewing room this morning. I trimmed up some half-square triangles from the leaders and enders in my last project. They went back into the leader and ender basket and will eventually become pinwheels.

I finished a card that I started on Friday but then I just couldn’t persuade myself to keep working. After lunch I read, wrapped in my newest shawl (thank you Kathryn). The house feels cool but once I wrapped myself up and put on a pair of socks I felt warmer. I couldn’t help but remember Dad telling us to put our hands in hot dishwater when we were cold; I had just run the dishwasher through so dishwater wasn’t an option.

I think I’ll grab another cup of coffee and go back to my book.

Saturday, November 21, 2020

I’m in my studio a lot; I’m sewing a lot and often without my glasses. Over the past few weeks I’ve been noticing how hard it is to see at my cutting table. My sewing machines all have lights so it isn’t too bad when I’m actually stitching but prep work was challenging, especially late in the day or in the evening. I wondered if my eyesight was getting worse.

I also thought it was because the days are getting shorter and with the recent time change the afternoons are often dark before I’m ready to quit.

But a few days ago I realized that two of the four light bulbs in my ceiling lights were burnt out. But I was busy and didn’t bother changing them; I’d been managing for awhile so there didn’t seem to be a rush.

Last night I was working after supper (Pat had an online meeting) and it was gradually getting darker. I assumed it was because I was working later than usual but then it suddenly got really dark. The third of the four lightbulbs had just died.

I replaced all three bulbs and it is wonderful. I feel like I could sew all night and still see just fine.

Three days of sewing with Stacia and Deloise and another day of taking care of some computer work leaves me pretty much caught up.

For the first day of sewing I worked on a Christmas gift so, obviously, no photo. By the end of the three days the gift was done and ready to be wrapped (along with everything else).

On the last day I had time to complete a quilt top that I started last year when Stacia, Deloise and I were together for some sewing. That won’t happen again for another while but we are already planning another three-day online event for January.

I spent all day at my computer and I have taken care of all the business as well as a few personal tasks that needed doing. I even had time to order more items from my Christmas list – I’m almost certain that is the end of it.

I was so keen on getting my office work done that I decided to take care of the paper shredding that had started to pile up. I don’t remember when I last shredded but when I turned it on the shredder would reverse but not go forward. I thought maybe it was because the unit seemed to be wonky and realized one of the wheels had popped off. I fixed that but still no luck. Although the bin was empty I took a pair of tweezers and got out all the bits of paper that were stuck in the corners. Again, no luck. So for my final task of the day I’ve ordered a new one. I’ll need it should I ever get to that reminder on my list that reads “Clean out the filing cabinet”.