Saturday, April 20, 2019

It is a beautiful day out there. Moreen and I went for a long walk this morning (more than our 10,000 steps). I love walking with Moreen as she isn’t afraid to follow a branch of a trail just to see where it goes. Today we were on a very muddy track but she figured out a way for us to bushwhack our way parallel to the mud and then she found our way back again. There were loads of trails where we were and I’m sure we’ll go out there again another day.

I really should be out in the yard doing some much needed cleaning up and weeding – or cutting the grass even. But I’ve been working on the design changes for the rail fence quilt I’m doing and I want it done. I have two more sides to add and then I’ll leave it until Thursday to see what the ladies think I should do next. I’m thinking just a border around the edge and calling it finished, but we’ll see.

I could also be out on the deck sandwiching quilts. I purchased a second table to make the sandwiching easier and we haven’t had a sunny day since when I wasn’t busy with something else. I’m hopeful the sun will carry over to tomorrow and I’ll get outside and do something.

Back to work!

Friday, April 18, 2019

I’m usually further ahead on the Easter front than I am this year. I made my Hot Cross Buns this morning and they were done in time for a taste test at lunch – yum!

I’ve been puttering around on my computer for the part of my day that wasn’t spent mixing, or waiting for something to rise, bake or cool. I made a quick trip to the Hall to pick up a deposit and while I was out I dropped off a couple of buns to a friend; when I said yesterday that I was going to make some Gail asked if I’d save her a couple. She thought I’d bring them next Thursday but by then they won’t be as fresh (if there are even any left).

I enjoyed a brief e-mail exchange with a woman in Florida. It was through her blog that I first heard of the I’m a Farmer’s Daughter quilt. I ordered the pattern but wanted to purchase fabric on a trip with Stacia and Deloise so I e-mailed her and she sent me the fabric requirements. We’ve messaged back and forth a few times – me to congratulate her on her finish and to update her on my progress. I sent her a photo of my finished quilt; she’s now working on another Jen Kingwell pattern – Bring Me Flowers.

I spent some time last night working on more of the changes to my Rail Fence quilt. I’m liking the design change and I think I’ll carry on with it until supper.

It was nice to catch up with Mary Flower (one of our performers) and get to know Doug Cox (the other performer). This being the third time Mary has been here, she walked right in and knew where “her” room was. She appreciated the soap and before they left for the ferry this morning they stopped at the shop to buy more. Doug runs the big music festival on the Island and I thought he might have a bit of an ego but he was as nice as could be. Both were very gracious and grateful.

I was out to sewing today. For the last two weeks I’ve been looking at my sewing project on the design wall and decided it just wasn’t working for me. I took off the borders I had around the centre and added a flange on each of the four sides. I re-attached the blocks to the bottom and thought it was improved. Gail liked the results but Jessie gave me an idea of what I might change and I’m going to try it. So much time spent on a scrappy give-away quilt but it needs to look okay to me before I give it to anyone.

Jessie thought we were working on a group project today (we weren’t) and she didn’t have anything to do. She spent some time picking out a quilting pattern for Gail to use on the long arm for the quilt top Jessie finished last week. When she asked if there was anything she could do for me I gave her the three border fabrics I intended to use on my project (a lovely soft orange, an orange floral print, and a darker orange floral); she cut out strips for me so I can make a “real” rail fence.

But next week we are definitely going to start working on a group project. When I walked into the sewing room I saw a pattern on Gail’s table and asked about it. She bought it as a kit and intends to make it as a gift for a grandchild. I thought it would be a perfect way to show off my Limoncello strips. Jessie has just finished her fourth log cabin quilt; they are all going to her nieces and nephews. She has enough fabric left from all of the quilts that she is going to make the quilt for her sister (the Mum) using up the scraps.

When I came home and sat in my chair (okay I sat to play a few rounds of Candy Crush) I saw my library book sitting there. It is due back on Saturday and, although I’m enjoying it, I know it won’t be done by Saturday. I’ve just renewed it for another month – I can enjoy it at my leisure.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Most mornings I put my socks on while standing up – I consider it my yoga pose for balance. My back has been sore and this morning I sat in my chair to put my socks on. Pat says he always sits to put his socks on and I made the comment that maybe we were getting old. No, say it isn’t so! It didn’t stop us from hauling all the gear for tonight’s show on Texada out to the truck. We’ll unload it at the Hall tomorrow and then load it back up again for the trip back home tomorrow night, where we’ll have to unload it again. So maybe this morning was just an anomaly.

I was off to the bee as usual this morning. I’m working on my HST project in batches – sew a few blocks, press a few blocks, trim a few blocks, and repeat. I didn’t have too many stops to make on my way home today; one stop took me to the liquor store (we like to stock up for our guests), next I went to the grocery store for a couple of things, and then one last stop at the artist’s co-op.

One of our performers is on her third trip to Powell River; Mary was the performer at our very first house concert way back when. The first time she was here someone mentioned the “Powell River Soap Lady” to her; at that time the shop she was selling in was closed but I tracked down the owner and she opened so Mary could get some of her soap.

In Mary’s subsequent trips I’ve always managed to get a bar of her soap for the bathroom, as well as one for her to take home with her. Just in case she remembered I had done this in the past I thought I’d best not break with tradition.

Pat is on Texada tonight with their show. I have finished cooking and mashing a pot of potatoes – shepherd’s pie for supper tomorrow (along with a rhubarb crisp from last year’s rhubarb) and a bit extra for hot cross buns. I still have one bed to make and the bathrooms to clean but then I’ll be ready.

I intended to go walking with Moreen in the morning but I don’t think I’m going to make it. If I don’t make a trip to the recycle and bottle depot the performers may not get in the door!