Friday, August 18, 2023

I had a good few days on Texada. I accomplished a lot; I finished a cross stitch project and the bonus chicken project as well as putting together a quilt top. Along with some reading and a few cross words it was a pretty relaxing time.

We were really looking forward to the Perseid meteor shower and had the hammocks set up in the yard as well as chairs set up on the deck. We saw lots of stars, lots of satellites and a few meteors on Sunday night and about the same results on Monday. We had a comfortable view of a wide section of sky but apparently not in the right directions or else we didn’t stay up late enough.

I spent yesterday sewing with Stacia and Deloise. I was continuing with the project I worked on the last time we sewed together. It is a difficult pattern (even Deloise says so) and although I made progress I’m still working at it. I thought it would go relatively easy today but I didn’t make much headway this morning – too much reverse stitching plus I had to cut more fabric.

I was going to go out and do some weeding this morning but it is a very cool and windy day so I decided not to. Our gardener is coming by again tomorrow. She thought once a month would be sufficient but we noticed a lot of bindweed coming up so we asked if she could come again. Sophie said she had driven by the house and had also noticed how fast the bindweed was growing so she was fine about coming tomorrow.

Tonight is the Blackberry Festival street party. They didn’t have the event during Covid of course but last year Pat was playing at the Boardwalk on Friday nights so I didn’t bother going down on my own. I’m looking forward to some blueberry shortcake provided by the Townsite Heritage Society as well as some bannock from the Tla’amin nation. There are always lots of other dessert options and a few places that have more main course options.

I have a Celebration of Life to go to tomorrow afternoon. I expect there will be a large turnout as Al was quite well known in the community. He made a couple of signs for the Hall, and he was almost an honorary Guild member. I am lucky enough to have one of his treasure chests. The thought when I got it was that I would limit my keepsakes to what would fit into it but clearly I need a much larger one or I need to do more divesting.

I haven’t decided yet whether or not I’ll head back to Texada on Sunday. The things I most want to get done are here in Powell River but it is hard to resist the thought of doing not-much-of-anything on Texada.

August 15, 2023

The pickings are rather slim in my birthday card bin but this one turned out quite well. The balls in the bowl make me think of summer fruit – maybe a lemon, some strawberries and limes (if you really use your imagination)!

Saturday, August 12, 2023

We’ll be heading over to Texada tomorrow morning for a few days; we’ll be back late in the day Wednesday. I have a sewing date with Stacia and Deloise on Thursday and Pat has an appointment at the lab.

We had a lovely day with Peggy (Elliott) and Bill. We made reservations for lunch at The Laughing Oyster but shortly before we left to pick them up at the ferry we got a phone call that they were out of propane and weren’t going to be open until dinner time. We took a chance on being able to get in at the Boardwalk in Lund. When we got there we thought we might be driving back to Powell River as their sign said closed. Pat went in and checked (he knows everyone as that is where he plays every week) but they were just a little late opening. We had a good lunch and a good visit when we got back to the house.

We also had company yesterday morning. Our friend Grant came over to pay Pat for the recording he did a couple of weeks ago. He has always been asking after me so Pat invited him in for a chat. We figured it had been since before Covid that we had last seen each other face-to-face. We had a good catch-up. I napped in the afternoon (after doing some yard work) and I didn’t sleep well at all last night. I’ll try to stay awake this afternoon but it may be an early night for me.

I had a fairly long walk this morning to pick up the remaining three chicken patterns for the set we are working on. The person I bought them from was in Powell River to teach a class so I was able to get them without either of us paying postage. There were about eight people in today’s class, a mixture of quilters from Texada and our Guild. I think there were a few other people missing though. It was my second time to walk up the hill and, again, I made it. I took a different route and I think it was easier than the way I went the first time. I have one more path to try and then I’m certain I could manage a walk-off from the ferry to home.

I won’t be taking much with me to Texada but I have plenty to work on over there. I’ve packed my chickens but I’ll leave both my mystery quilt and my cross stitching behind. I have a quilt top on my design wall over there that I hope to get sewn together and I have a cross stitching project there that I need to get done for Christmas. I started a new book so that will be going along with me, and if I finish it I know there are some in the cupboard that I haven’t read.

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

I haven’t posted anything for awhile but there really isn’t anything to write about. My days are quite boring. I spend a bit of time in my sewing room, a bit of time hand stitching, a bit of time in the yard, a bit of time reading, and very little time cleaning my house. Of course I seldom do any two of those things on the same day and if I try I usually regret it.

My sewing revolves around a summer mystery quilt that I’m doing. It is run by a friend of Deloise’s and this is my third year taking part. I thought I had all the various pieces sorted for my blocks but realized today (after chatting with some of the Guild members who are also taking part) that I needed to take another look at how I put things together. I have about five more pieces to stitch together before attempting an actual block.

I’m enjoying my hand stitching although I think I’m avoiding my wool appliqué project because I have to actually start doing some of the fancier stitches. My Pixie Lane cross stitch sew-along gets cuter with every week, although I’m still two weeks behind.

The yard is looking so good right now but I can’t take much credit for it. I was sitting on the deck last night and a man, from across the street, called out to tell me how good it looked. The gardener, Sophie, worked out great and I’ve managed to get a few of the spots I’m responsible for finished. I still have some work to do along one side of the house but no one but me sees it so I’m in no rush – a little at a time.

I’ve been learning how to nap recently. In the past a nap in the afternoon meant no one wanted to see me (or I them) until the next morning. But a shorter nap is working better, although some days after working in the yard my short nap stretches to a couple of hours. If I get up as soon as I realize I’ve been asleep I feel better. Ken sets an alarm for half an hour but I always read a bit before I try to sleep and, if the book is good, I’d spend the whole time reading.

I made it out to the Guild sewing today. The usuals were there and several others dropped in. It was nice to see everyone although I have to admit there were times when I was struggling to find the right name to put to the face. I’m looking forward to getting back on a more regular basis but I’ll be seeing how I feel week to week. I’m making no commitments to the Guild so if I skip a session it won’t matter.

We’ve had a bit of rain today and it is supposed to continue for another day. I’m not sure we got enough to do much for the fires but it was enough that I didn’t feel the need to water in the yard.