Sunday, March 15, 2020

I was out the door to do some grocery shopping first thing this morning. I had a list and wasn’t really looking for anything virus-related but I did pick up some extra meat and frozen vegetables for the freezer. I had potatoes, onions, and salad mixes on the list and I picked up a few extras in anticipation of two sets of guests during the week. I didn’t find the shelves particularly empty, but I didn’t head down the paper products aisle so I don’t know what the situation was there. I looked for hand sanitizer for the Hall but didn’t find any; I know we have one there but I anticipate it may “walk” over the next few weeks.

My plan was to make a Shepherd’s Pie for tomorrow’s guest and serve it with a salad. The cleaning was done (as much as I intended to do) for his visit. Next Saturday we had two guests arriving so the sheets and towels would have to be washed, the spare room bed changed and the futon set up upstairs. My plan was for another Shepherd’s Pie and a salad, but just to mix it up a bit I bought a different salad mix!

I finished my embroidery block at about the same time as Pat came home from Texada. We listened to a news conference from Ottawa and decided, based on what we heard, to cancel both of our shows. The warnings that came out of the news conference was to self-isolate if you were in the over-70 group (hard to imagine that is us) and most of the ticket holders were that age. They also said that non-essential gatherings should be avoided and that is what truly made us act. It won’t be easy dealing with the refunds but we both are confident we made the right choice.

While news of the cancellations spread through social media, and before the phone started ringing, we took a walk along the sea wall. There were more birds down there than I’ve ever seen – a result of the herring coming back this year. There were a lot of people as well; I guess they took to heart the news that walking outside wasn’t harmful to your health.

The cancellations mean I’ll have a “normal” week – sewing two days and computer work for three. I should have time for some sewing as well but I have a meeting to prepare for so I’ll have to see how that goes.

We’re off tonight to a local pub for pizza (best pizza ever) and to hear a bit of music. We’ll maintain a social distance (and the alcohol should help).

Saturday, March 14, 2020

We had a reception at the Hall last night for the people who gave us the grant for the renovations as well as a few others who, in the Board’s opinion, were instrumental in getting it done. It was meant to be a drop-in affair but as is the case with all good parties people came and didn’t leave. The grant people were very impressed with what we did and the Board is ,thinking we have a good chance at more money in a few years.

I decided today was going to be a “me” day and I’ve enjoyed it completely. We have a show on Monday night so I got the bed made and the spare room cleaned up. I kept going and scrubbed floors, vacuumed and tidied. In between tasks I worked on some embroidery – one of my Splendid Sampler patterns and (I think) the last embroidered one.

I spent a lot of time on the phone regarding show tickets and answering the door to sell tickets and one surprise delivery of a Townsite beer – which I will enjoy tonight.

Thursday, March 12, 2020

I managed to get a lot of my clearing up done yesterday before dinner. My cutting table is still a bit of a mess but I think I’ll be able to vacuum up here tomorrow.

I was even able to take care of a few small jobs that had been on my sewing table for ages – a seam in the backing for one of my quilts and a dog pillow stitched and ready to donate.

This morning I took care of a few e-mails and some Hall work and I still had time to finish a card and some labels for the Community Quilts I brought home to quilt. I had people stopping by for show tickets and Hall cheques but I was pleased with all I accomplished.

This afternoon was another sewing event at Gail’s. I finished two more chisel blocks on the donation quilt I’ve been working on. I have six blocks done, two more almost finished, and quite a few more cut out. I realized today though that I need 35 blocks for the layout I’m planning so it won’t be done any time soon. I’ve left it at Gail’s for my Thursday project.

I’m feeling pretty good about things right now – I even have a new knitting project started and it doesn’t involve textured yarn or a shawl pattern!

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

I’ve been at my desk all day today and I’ve been making progress. My Guild work is caught up, Pat’s tickets are printed, and most of the Hall work is done. A lot of my Hall work involves some research and passing things through the Board so they are on my list as reminders of things I need to do before the next meeting. That meeting is a couple of weeks away so I have some time.

The rest of my sewing room is a mess. I have bags of projects from the weekend retreat and I have quite a few bags of projects from sewing yesterday. Most of it just needs to be put away but I’ve been avoiding that. Pat is teaching a guitar lesson this afternoon so I’m confined (not really) to the upstairs so I’ll try to get some of that work done.

Tomorrow is another sewing day so I need to figure out something I can work on. I have a project for donation and since it is easy to pull out I’ll probably stick with that one. I’ve been looking online at three new patterns that I’d like to try; they come from Australia but are downloads so I get them immediately if I decide to purchase them. I’m waiting to hear from the designer as to what technique is used in the patterns – straight piecing or paper-piecing.

I have a few backings to sort out for quilts that need to go to Texada with me. I have some minor repairs to do on a couple of blocks and I have a couple of cards that need to be completed so they can be mailed out later this month.

It never ends with me does it!