Wednesday, December 20, 2017

My day at home didn’t work out as I had hoped. I knew I had to make a trip to the Post Office, but how did my list get so long?

I spent the morning working on a new project. It started out to be a card for Taylor’s birthday and now I’ve decided it will also serve as my miniature quilt for the January Guild meeting. I saw a picture online back in 2015 and saved it. I was going through some files when I came across the picture and decided I’d give it a try. It involved some embroidery work and I had a rough outline drawn on some muslin when I realized all my floss was on Texada. But I wanted to keep going so I added some backing and batting and used my machine to stitch the lines. I think, in a more involved way, this technique is called thread painting. It was fun to do and I might be tempted to actually borrow one of the thread painting books we have in the Guild library to try something more advanced. As yet there is still some finishing work to be done on my “card” but I may have time to get at it again this afternoon.

When Pat was out for groceries this morning he didn’t go to the store where we get the type of bread we really like. So I added that item to my list. And since I was going to Quality Foods, which is in the same mall as the Library, I decided to drop off two of my library books. When we were on Texada last weekend I really felt I needed something warmer than my Pollen sweater; I checked the thrift stores yesterday but I didn’t find anything so I added a stop at Mark’s to my list. We need a set of measuring cups for Texada so the dollar store got added to the list. And since I was at the dollar store, which is in the same strip mall as Canadian Tire, I stopped there for a covered 9″x13″ baking pan. Safeway had a sale on butter (limit of 4) and Pat picked up some for home but we decided we could take another set of four over to Texada so that added another stop.

Remember those lovely things I said about the new postal clerk when I mailed all my packages? I take it all back. I had one of my regular clerks today and she told me that to mail the returned package wrapped as it is was going to cost me $12. She unwrapped the package and tried to make it smaller but to no avail. She also noticed that the postage was only $1.20 when the very minimum amount should have been $1.80. Hopefully not everything is going to be returned or cost the receiver extra money. I’ll unwrap the one that was returned, open it up and remove some of the stuffing in hopes I can get it down to the $1.80 postage. I’m in no hurry now though as I know the intended receiver has left home for his Christmas holiday.

So maybe tomorrow I’ll get that day at home – although I already know I won’t. Pat and I have an appointment with our financial people right after lunch and then we are going to see if we can find a table-top tree to take over to Texada. And who knows what else will be added to the list by the time we leave.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Pat and I have chatted about why it is I get so much done at the studio on Texada and not when I’m in my studio here at home. He suggested I try to do all my “running around” on one day of the week. Another suggestion was to see a project through from start to finish. Doing the running around after the sewing bee seemed like a good way to start particularly because I had to get a parcel sent off in the mail today. I didn’t really have anything else to do but banking and most other things could be added to the end of a sewing day. I’ve tried the “one project” idea a few times but it seems there is always something else creeping into the schedule.

I took two projects to the bee today. I have a quilt that needs the binding done; I wanted to make a pieced binding so I took my strips with me. I need over 300″ and I thought it would take a lot longer to get that much done than it did. I wished that I had taken the quilt with me so I could stitch the binding on to it. I moved on to my second project before lunch. I’m making some rail fence blocks for another Community Quilt. I got 31 more blocks finished and that is certainly enough to get the centre of the quilt done. Both of these quilts are scrap projects – how is it that I never run out of scraps?

I was quite proud of myself for all I accomplished today and I anticipated having several days at home. But when I checked the mail one of my cards came back with “Insufficient Postage”. I took all my packages to the Post Office and I’m not sure why they didn’t weigh them properly; I just hope that the rest of them don’t start coming back. I’ll have to go out again tomorrow and sort out the postage – there’s always something to interrupt a perfectly planned schedule!

I’m going to try and get the binding stitched onto the quilt before supper. It would be lovely to have it finished before Christmas.

Monday, December 18, 2017

We arrived home on the noon ferry from a great weekend at the studio – actually Pat had a great week before I got there! As much as I like our place on Texada it is nice to be back home.

We had another busy day on Sunday. When we were on Texada this fall we attended the last Farmer’s Market of the summer. This Sunday was the first of their weekly Winter Markets. It only took us about two minutes to go around the tables; when that was finished we headed to The Ravenous Raven for lunch/brunch.

A bit later in the afternoon we headed out to the Legion for the last Trivia Meat Draw of the year. Pat had been before (and won a turkey breast) but this was my first time. Everyone sits around one big table and between the trivia questions and the draws we all chatted. Everyone we have met over there is friendly and interesting to talk to – most have lived on Texada for many years. On the third draw my number was picked and I won a package of ground beef; Pat won the next draw and picked a package of bacon. All the meat is donated (or bought) from the local market and everyone was raving about how good it is.

At the end of the meat draw you can pay a dollar and put your tickets back in the jar for a 50-50 draw. Pat came home with just over $25 so we pretty much had a free afternoon!

With all my Christmas packages finished and a few ornaments started for next year I was itching to start a new project. But with all the UFO’s I already have I restrained myself. I did pick an “old” project and it had been so long since I worked on it I felt like it was something new. This was a Christmas gift from Kathryn and Pat and I think it was probably from 1986. I made quite a bit of progress on it and I’m looking forward to working on it between Christmas and New Years. The pattern is from The Enchanted Forest series – so perfect since my Netflix series of choice right now is Once Upon a Time!

I have a few things to prep for the bee tomorrow so I’d best get at it.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

We had a great day yesterday. I caught the early ferry over to the studio so I was on “The Rock” by nine. The sun was shining so we went out for a long walk in the afternoon. We’ve walked the path around Turtle Lake a few times but yesterday we continued on and walked into town. It was further than we expected but only a couple of hills so an easy stroll.

Last night was the monthly Bingo night at the Legion. Neither Pat nor I had played Bingo since our Fort Smith days (and those days for me were more than 40 years ago). The game has changed in that time. No longer just straight lines or blackouts; we were working for hard lines, starbursts, and six around the corner. The couple who were sitting beside us were also newbies at Bingo night; I said I was hoping for beginner’s luck but I wasn’t expecting competition. As it turned out I won the first game – although apparently I’m supposed to holler out a little louder and wave my hands in the air (I’ll keep that in mind for next time). My winnings for the game was $25 – $5 more than I spent on the four cards I played.

Today was a bit quieter. We headed out to the Gas & Go for some baking – I’m not really sure why she sells out of there as there is a Winter Market on Sundays. We had pre-ordered some meat pies so picked them up – Pat had one for supper and says it is the best he’s ever had.

We weren’t home very long before our neighbour, Jamie, wandered over for a visit. They have invited us over for Christmas Eve. When Pat asked Heather what we should bring she said nothing – so we immediately decided a Cranberry Bundt cake would suit perfectly. They have two sons and a daughter-in-law visiting so even if she doesn’t use it Christmas Eve it will work for over the holidays.

I’ve been doing some Christmas cross stitching. I still had a project of Mum’s that I needed to back stitch and then she had a series of four others kitted up – they are all done now. I thought I was working for next Christmas but one of them will go to Heather on Christmas Eve.

I’ll spend the rest of the evening reading – I had a nap this afternoon so I may be able to stay up past ten!