Saturday, December 22, 2018

No, I didn’t get everything done but I’ve had to admit it just isn’t all going to fit into the time I have left. My e-cards went out and I have both the templates and fabric cut for my hand project; the gingersnaps were always just a dream (like sugarplums dancing in my head) and getting a quilt sandwiched would mean doing major cleaning in both the kitchen and my sewing rooms.

One of my favourite Christmas traditions (since we’ve been in Powell River) is a Christmas musical event. That happens tonight and it is the official start of my Christmas. We’ll be heading out on the ferry to Texada tomorrow morning, barring any last minute storms and ferry cancellations. The power has been off and on over there for the past few days but we’re hoping it was never off long enough to do any damage to the food in the fridge or the freezer. We’re taking lots of groceries with us so we won’t starve if we have to start from scratch again.

I haven’t done any decorating in the studio so that will be the first thing I get at when we arrive. I have just a few Christmas items stored over there from last year and I’m taking a few more with me. I went through and sorted all of our Christmas boxes this year; I have some wonderful stuff and I’m glad I have two homes to display it in.

I still need to do my packing – I have a few piles here and there and a few more things to pack and cross off my list. It’s a good thing we have a truck to haul it all in.

Friday, December 21, 2018

I had two Hall-related meetings yesterday morning, my sewing in the afternoon and a Guild party in the evening. It’s no wonder I didn’t have time to write my journal.

I hit the ground running this morning as I still have a long list of things to do before we leave for Texada on Sunday. I made a batch of cookies this morning, I printed, numbered and cut over 200 tickets for shows Pat has coming in the New Year, I made a rice pudding (because I wanted to use up some milk), I took in another Hall booking, circulated an Agenda for the Hall’s next Board meeting, delivered a couple of Christmas presents, and hit the bank for some cash.

What didn’t get done:

• Quilt sandwiched (I need to be quilting this ASAP)
• Gingersnaps made (I don’t really need them but I’ve got them in my mind so now I have to have them)
• Cards sent (even electronically I’m leaving it to the last minute)
• Measurements, templates and fabric cut for a hand project I hope to work on over the holidays.

Not to worry – I still have a day left!

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

We were warned yesterday that our power would be off between 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM; they needed to fix something that was damaged in one of the many previous storms we’ve had in the last week and before the next one hits tomorrow. They needed to use a helicopter for the repair work and were afraid if it wasn’t fixed today the next storm could do more damage.

I didn’t think it would be hard to fill in a day without electronics or electricity. It proved to be a bit of a challenge to work without lights though. I had a meeting at the Hall at nine so that was done before we lost power; my meeting at ten was cancelled so that gave me a little longer at home.

My thought was that I would do some tidying in my sewing room. While I was at that I thought I should make a list of all my UFO’s. But because those containers (boxes, bags, bins) are in the darkest corner of the room I decided there wasn’t enough light to do the job. In my moment of general tidying I came across a pattern I was going to use for a tag or ornament. Since I had all the right colours from my previous ornament-making, I spent the morning on the futon and whipped up an ornament that will go to the folks we are spending Christmas Eve with.

I made a note to myself that my filing cabinets needed to be cleaned out so started on my Cranberry Hall files. I got no further than to have things put in piles, by year. I have eight rather large piles and I still have one drawer of that particular filing cabinet to go through. Papers are scattered all over and it will be impossible for me to get anything else done until they are put away so I guess that’s what I’ll be doing for the rest of the day.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

I finally made it back to the Guild sewing bee today, but not before stopping at the Post Office to mail a package and the library to get those books returned. I was working on hand stitching today so it was a lighter load to carry in. I say “carry in” because I had to make two trips out to the car on the way home. A couple of the ladies were going through the Community Quilt scrap bins and had some fabric they wanted to get rid of. We knew that the High School was looking for donations so they filled up a big garbage bag. At the end of the day I volunteered to drop the fabric off at the school; I was headed in that direction today, tomorrow and the next day so I thought on one of those days I could stop.

I had some errands to run after sewing and the first stop (not a surprise) was at the Hall. I hadn’t checked the mail in awhile and I knew that some of our renters had dropped payments off for me. The mailbox was full, and most of it was money so that means I’ll need to stop at the bank tomorrow. On my way home I dropped off the fabric at the school and took a printer cartridge in for recycling. A quick stop for some baking supplies (I may yet get some baking done) and then a visit to the fabric shop. I needed backing for my next quilt and there was just enough of my first choice on the bolt. Hopefully I can get the quilt sandwiched over the next few days.

I thought I had made a small dent in my pile of paper yesterday but it seems to be multiplying as soon as I turn my back. I have a couple of meetings tomorrow morning that I need to prepare for and then I’ll work on the pile until supper. I’m enjoying my knitting in the evening.