Monday, September 10, 2018

I didn’t get to hand stitching the binding on my cards last night so, over a couple of cups of coffee, I finished them this morning. Then I went out to do a few errands and by the time I was home it was almost noon. I made a trip to the Hall to pick up a rental fee, a stop at the grocery store for some cake ingredients, a stop at Walmart and, finally, a stop at Staples to pick up some posters.

Since we are hosting the House Concerts on Texada I thought I should upgrade my towels over there – we are currently using beach towels as that was what was on sale when we took possession last year. We also acquired the sofa bed recently and we needed sheets for that; our extra sheets are required at home for the concerts here. I also bought some curtain rods as we are hoping to hang some quilts at the cafe to give the shows more ambience.

It was almost noon by the time I got home. When I went to check for mail (there wasn’t any) I thought I should check on the apples. There were some on the ground so I knew it was time to pick them. I have a Safeway bag overflowing so I’ll have to do something with them over the next couple of days – probably cut them up and freeze them for apple crisps. While I was out there I checked the grapes and, based on the one I tasted, they too are ready to be picked. I’ll have to do some research but I’d like to juice them and freeze the results. There are way too many of them for eating and I already have a shelf full of jelly.

After lunch I baked a cake for Guild tomorrow – we’re celebrating September birthdays. I was to make a cake in August but I jammed out and bought one – it was just too hot to even think about turning the oven on but our ladies were not pleased. While the cake baked I finished my book so it can go back to the library, on time, tomorrow (and I can pick up my new one). We have a few gluten-free members and we usually bring them a treat but I forgot to pick something up so I went back out this afternoon and got something.

I’d really like to spend some time cleaning up my sewing area tonight – trust me, it is a mess – but I think after supper I’ll probably sit with a Farmer’s Daughter block and sew for the evening.

Sunday, September 9, 2018

When I got up this morning I thought I might go out and run some errands but that isn’t the way the day unfolded. It was stormy most of the day – rain and wind. Although there is a small stream of sunshine at the moment I can see the next rain shower moving in from Savary Island. I could have stayed in my PJs all day; I didn’t poke my nose out the door and the door was never even unlocked.

This being my card and block day I spent all morning prepping various projects. I did some hand stitching on a couple of cards and I finished this week’s Splendid Sampler block. That particular block involved some hand stitching, then a bit more prep work and more hand stitching. I had a quiet afternoon stitching everything.

Tonight I’m back in my sewing room piecing a card and finishing up some blocks that I started on Thursday. Once the piecing is finished I’ll have another card to quilt. And I hope to get the binding on three of the cards and get them stitched down – I have a new series lined up on Netflix!

And if I get all that finished tonight I’ll have to spend some time with my book tomorrow; I got a notice from the library today that another book that I put on hold is ready to be picked up.

Saturday, September 8, 2018

At many times in my life I’ve played instruments; when I was younger I was able to keep up with the practicing. Mum, Miss Burkowski, and Mrs. Raycroft kept me on track with piano and it was just plain fun playing and performing with Roberta and Jackie on my guitar.

As I’ve grown older I’ve tried a few other options. When one of the kids had a flute left over from school I took up lessons – for about six weeks. I wasn’t good at it and I hated to practice.

Since coming to Powell River I took up the ukulele. I took lessons, I joined a ukulele jam session but, again, I didn’t practice. My excuse for not practicing was that I couldn’t sing so it wasn’t as much fun as the jam nights, but without the practice I wasn’t up to par for the jams. I haven’t been back for at least a year, probably longer.

I sold my ukulele today and no matter what fun instrument shows up on the doorstep I’ve given up my dream of ever performing again!

Friday, September 7, 2018

After a really warm day yesterday it started to rain overnight and it really hasn’t stopped much all day – the sun certainly hasn’t been out and I’m trying not to turn on the furnace. The forecast says we have several more days of rain but I’m not complaining as we certainly need it. It would have been nicer if it had held off more than a half-day after Pat did a vinegar treatment on the weeds though!

Yesterday was busy – sewing in the afternoon and meetings in the evening. Most of yesterday morning was spent cutting fabric for my afternoon session but I also dug out the card pattern I’m hoping to make. I think the design is possible but do I have the time? The Guild meetings in the evening were good but they resulted in a bit of computer work for me.

We’ll be continuing this year with the Scrap blocks but they will be more coordinated this year – each month will focus on a different colour. When we were putting last year’s blocks together for Community Quilts many of the members had nightmares about the blocks that went into some of the quilts. This year at least the blocks will be in the same colour family when they are put together. They are also having a Secret Pal program; each month we’ll bring a “little something” to our Secret Pal and receive something in return; we won’t know our who our Pal is until the potluck at the end of the year. And if that isn’t enough “extra” I also picked up the Guild challenge for this year – a lovely piece of fabric that we have to add two colours to and make a bag. And just when I swore I wouldn’t make another bag!

I spent this morning getting the Cranberry Hall minutes written up and distributed. I also had a showing at the Hall mid morning and a stop at the bank on the way home. Since lunch I’ve been working on my Guild updates.

Pat went across to Texada this morning; I’m going to get busy quilting now and I’m not going to stop until I have my miniature quilt ready for binding.