Monday, September 9, 2019

My friend Gail has been working on a fabric de-stashing sale for a few weeks. On Thursdays she is kind enough to let Jessie and I have a first look at what she has put out for sale. Tomorrow the sale will start for the general public but she said I could come over today and have a look at what she had.

I started thinking about what I could make that might require new fabric. The Guild challenge this year is a circus theme and I’ve already picked out an elephant appliqué that I will use. I only had one suitable fabric for the elephants (I want to use grey florals) so that went to the top of my list. Sadly I left the list in my purse so forgot all about this fabric; I’ll look again on Thursday when I’m there for sewing.

Next I thought of the Jen Kingwell pattern I plan to start when Stacia and Deloise and I go sewing in October. I dug out the pattern and it doesn’t give actual fabric colours but it mentions neutrals and small prints. I was able to pick up a number of lovely fat quarters and neutrals that will work.

And I’ve had my eye on some really nice blue fabric for quite awhile but never really had anything in mind for it. I decided I’d get enough for a 3-Yard quilt; I had a bit of trouble finding the patterns that Stacia and Deloise picked in Houston but eventually found them in my computer filing system. I picked up some red that will go with the blue and I’ll add a third colour from my own stash.

Once I was thinking about the October sewing trip I started thinking about all the prep work that is going to be required. I bought a quilt pattern at CQA in Vancouver that I need to cut the fabric for, and I have a Cake Recipe (a technique I’ve never used) that requires some neutral fabric to be cut. The Jen Kingwell pattern makes use of templates so there is a lot of work to be done before I can even think about colours and colour placement, but having some of the fabrics is a start.

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Two months ago (and it is only by coincident that those dates worked out) I mentioned wearing a new outfit to the shops for my errands. In that post I admitted that I had neglected to brush my hair before leaving home.

Just over a week ago we had an event at the Hall and, since the weather was a bit iffy, I decided to wear the new outfit again. Pat was doing sound for the event and we arrived at the Hall mid-afternoon. I knew there would be a lot of tidying up needed due to the renovations so I wore old clothes and packed the good ones for after the cleaning was done. Remembering my error the last time I wore the outfit I knew I had to pack my hairbrush. When I went to get changed I dug right to the bottom of my bag but no hairbrush was to be found. So I ran my fingers through my hair and did the best I could to make myself presentable. When I got home after the show my brush was sitting in the closet right beside where I probably picked my clothes up from.

Pat is working for one of the pubs in town to book performers. Tonight is the first of the Sunday Socials and the group performing is one I want to see. They performed at the Hall early last year and I enjoyed them. It is rainy and cool today so I think my outfit with the lovely sweater will be just perfect. And I will remember to brush my hair before I leave home, and I might even take my brush with me!

Third times the charm (I hope).

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Yesterday afternoon the Conservation Officers placed a bear trap in the yard across the road. There have been bears in their yard almost every year, although I’ve never seen them. Last night I was out until almost eleven waiting for the bear to come along – no luck.

This morning we were sitting on the deck having coffee and we thought we heard someone sawing on a tree. The neighbour from across the road came out and told us the bear was up in the tree and he (the bear) wasn’t happy. Apparently that is the sound a bear makes. Unfortunately the bear was in a spot where we couldn’t see him and, unlike many people passing by, we didn’t go out to the yard for a closer view.

Not long after the Conservation Officer came along again. In our town calling the Conservation Officer about a bear usually means one thing – the bear is destroyed. Sadly that is how this situation turned out.

Although I know that being a Conservation Officer in our town can’t be easy, I did feel that they should have given the bear trap another day. It was tucked way back in the driveway, almost inside their garage, with a couple of vehicles parked in front of it.

After everyone had cleared out we headed out for some errands and a visit to the Fall Fair. Our first stop was the Therapeutic Riding School’s silent auction. Until last year when a quilter won a huge basket of fat quarters I didn’t even know they had an auction associated with the Fair. I put my name down for three different bundles of fat quarters and a set of five (or maybe six) John Grisham hard cover books. Pat added his name to a set of Chinese bowls.

There isn’t much to see at the Fair but we wandered through the barn. Lots of goats and sheep, a few piglets, rabbits and chickens. They had a large pen of baby chicks and ducks – took me right back to the Brooder House and learning my Roman numerals!

We chatted with a lot of friends but didn’t buy much. Pat bought a container of mushrooms and I bought a jar of Quince Jelly. On the way back to the truck we walked through the Silent Auction one more time – all of our bids were safe!

I’m going to cross stitch for the rest of the day.

September 6, 2019

Part of our renovations at the studio on Texada was to replace the wood stove and move it to my workshop. Mission accomplished.

The wood stove put out too much heat for the studio and, even with fans, didn’t spread it down the hall to the bedroom. This week the first stove got moved and installed in my workshop. I can start using it right away although it isn’t cold enough yet to need it; the installer still needs to come back to add a couple of things and then he’ll WETT certify the stove.

The hearthstone for the stove in the studio hasn’t arrived so there is some delay getting it installed.

The fellow who does the wood stove is an all-round handyman and he is going to weatherproof the workshop, as well as install the composting toilet.

Now, if I could just find some empty space in my schedule to make it across.