Tuesday, June 19, 2018

I don’t think it was quite as hot today as yesterday – at least today we had a bit of a breeze. I spent the evening out on the back deck cross stitching; it wasn’t exactly cool but at least it was out of the sun. I was happy to be stitching in a cool place today, although by the end of the day it didn’t feel quite as cool (at least until you walked outside).

I finished two more Farmer’s Wife blocks today – 97 of 111 are done so I may (fingers crossed) get it done in time for the quilt show in April. I’ve always said that the Farmer’s Wife and the Farmer’s Daughter had to go into the same show and, since I’ve just changed my entire thinking on the Farmer’s Daughter, that may be a stretch. As our Cranberry Hall president said in the budget meeting yesterday, “If you don’t set the bar high, why set it at all?”.

I had a Cranberry Hall deposit to make on my way home and then I came upstairs to take care of some paperwork and some tidying. We’re off to the Island tomorrow for the day – looking forward to a visit with Peggy and Bill. It will be nice to be out on the ferry deck with a breeze, particularly if it remains hot.

Monday, June 18, 2018

Although it was a quick trip, we had a great weekend with Christy and crew. We were there to watch the year-end performances of gymnastics (Taylor) and Parkour (Dylan). The kids had to be at the gym by 11 AM, the show didn’t start until 1:30 PM and lasted for two hours. They must have been so tired of “putting in time” and sitting around but they did well in their short performances. I took photos but they were moving so fast they are all pretty much a blur!

Because of all that sitting they were ready to burn off some steam when they got home. Christy and Rick hosted a BBQ down at the creek in honour of Father’s Day. Rick’s parents, his sister, husband and two kids, and his half-sister and her husband were there; everyone brought their dogs so there were more dogs than kids at the event. There was certainly no shortage of food and the kids and dogs enjoyed swimming in the creek. Rick may have taken fire starting lessons from Ray because he sure had a big one going. Fortunately there was also a small fire for roasting marshmallows for S’mores.

My allergies certainly acted up while I was there. The cotton was flying off the trees and I was hardly there a few hours before my throat was so sore it hurt to swallow. I was taking my allergy pills but even at home they only last a few hours. Just a few minutes after we left the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal my throat cleared up and I was fine. There is still a bit of “something” in the air at home but my one pill a day seems to keep everything at bay.

I had a Cranberry Hall budget meeting this morning and for the rest of the day I’ve been preparing for the Guild year-end party on Thursday. Each month throughout the year we’ve been assigned a row by row block and the complete project is due at the party. I had all my blocks done but it took all day to get them stitched together; everything was a different size and so I had to add a few fillers around several of the blocks. It is an awful looking project, but at least it is done!

Too hot to do much of anything else with the afternoon so I think I’ll relax in the shade on the back deck.

Thursday, June 14, 2018

I really wanted to do the Splendid Sampler 2 block that was released today; it was a pretty simple block and it wouldn’t have taken too much time. My deal with myself was I’d get a card finished and then I’d do the new block (x2 so I’d have a card ready the next time I needed it).

The card I was working on today seemed pretty simple; paper piecing with a bit of piecing as well. Not so. The pattern had you cut out specific sizes for the paper piecing; being as efficient as I am I cut out all the pieces for the card and another set (for my Splendid Sampler Second Time Around). Sadly those first pieces were too small; I made a note to myself and cut some more.

Again the pieces didn’t work on the angle they needed to be at. So I cut them extra large (although I had to switch fabrics so I’d have enough) and got on with it. But on the second one I missed one of the strips and that meant more cutting and starting that particular piece over.

I finally managed to get the top finished by lunch (a late lunch); I sandwiched and quilted it this afternoon. I’ll take the hand stitching to do on the ferry tomorrow (we’re off to Vancouver), along with some thread that Taylor has requested so I can fix a few of her stuffies.

We have the doll house, cabinet and furniture loaded into the truck. Since we are driving I have a couple more things I want to take to Christy’s.

I think there is time to pack before supper.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

I feel like I’m back on track this week. Although I should have enjoyed a full day at home I had a few errands to run; along with that and some computer work it was noon before I got started sewing.

I finished another Farmer’s Wife Sampler block. This one was a little confusing with a mixture of paper piecing and templates for the pattern. In the end I used the paper piecing portion of the pattern and developed my own method of dealing with the set in triangles than required the template.

I’m really enjoying getting back to these sampler blocks and I vow not to be distracted by the Splendid Sampler II Sew Along that starts tomorrow!