Saturday, November 4, 2017

I had an early start to my day and was back at my sewing machine just shortly past eight. It turned out there were very few of those nine-patches remaining and I had them done in no time. The first craft fair was on at eleven and before it was time to leave I started on some Cranberry Hall reports – our meeting is on Wednesday.

The craft fair had all the usual suspects selling all the usual stuff – lots of jewelry and natural soap products and table after table of knitting and crocheting. I wasn’t tempted by anything and wondered why I even bothered to go.

I had my eyes open for some possible Advent calendar goodies but nothing appealed (or was cheap enough). After I came home I managed to decide on my game for this year’s calendar so that is a big hurdle passed. I still have to do the shopping but I think (I hope) it will be fun for everyone. It involves some sewing as well so it’s a good thing the retreat is coming up.

I’ve started on the free-motion part of my quilting. I’m using two different patterns – one is a single spiral (when I can keep my focus) and one is a flower – I had a lot of practice with this flower design when I quilted my Celtic Crystals and I’m comfortable (if not terribly accurate) doing it free-handed.

It’s quite a chilly day today and while I had my lunch I watched a show on Netflix. Lunch didn’t take long so I picked up my knitting. I would have liked to have kept at it but my quilt awaits.

We turn the clocks back tonight but I doubt I will notice the extra hour. What I do notice is that it is dark really early in the evening (actually late in the afternoon) and we have a two-hour time difference with Saskatoon. That makes it much harder to phone my grand kids (and their parents).

Friday, November 3, 2017

I quilted all morning. I was hoping that by lunch I would have all the straight-line stitching done but that just didn’t happen. I’ve been working and working and never really noticing how many 9-patches still needed to be outlined; I assumed that with all that I’d done so far I must be close to the end. Maybe it is better that I don’t know!

After lunch I had to go out to pick up a prescription; since I was going to the pharmacy anyway I decided to get my flu shot. I usually go to a public clinic (I understand the cost to the government is less than through pharmacies) but I couldn’t find a clinic until the end of the month and I didn’t want to wait that long. After the flu shot was over I asked about the pneumonia shot; she said I could get that right away if I wanted so that’s what I did. Although the flu shot seldom bothers me I now have the potential for both my right and left arms to be tender. The pamphlet they handed out says that exercising the arm is good so I guess more quilting will fill the bill.

So, back to it!

When I came back from Texada on Monday I decided I didn’t care if my house was as clean “as usual” for the house concert on Wednesday night. But by Tuesday morning I had changed my mind so I stayed home from the bee and did my usual round of cleaning. Hallowe’en night I had my QiGong class but as soon as I was in the door we turned off all the lights; we seldom have anyone come around Trick or Treating so the past couple of years we haven’t even bothered buying any candy. I always prepare a little bag for the girl next door but even she was going to another neighbourhood where the treats were better!

There has only ever been one performer that I was familiar with before their show. That was Cindy Church and I was so nervous; needless as it turned out as she was very nice. So when I knew Karen Savoca was coming I tried very hard not to turn myself into a nervous wreck. I first saw her perform (we figured it out) almost 20 years ago at the Vancouver Folk Festival. We’ve seen her in concert a few times since and we (Pat and I, Stacia and Ron) almost saw her in Victoria after one of our Blossom Walks; I had walked the Ultra Marathon and just couldn’t manage a concert in the evening no matter how much I wanted to. From the moment she and Pete (Heitzman) walked through the door it was like meeting old friends.

We had a leisurely dinner but I guess we chatted too long as we were still sitting around the table when the first House Concert guests arrived (they were way too early!). I had to scramble to get everything put away and set out for the concert, all the time holding a conversation with everyone in the kitchen. It seemed everyone was anxious to get a good seat for the concert because the person who came in the door at about 7:15 was on the late side according to everyone else. The concert was one I’ll remember for a long time and everyone just loved the show.

After the guests had left and we had the living room more or less put back together we sat up until midnight chatting. Again, over breakfast, we were enjoying ourselves until we noticed that they only had 15 minutes to pack up and get down to the ferry line-up. It was the best concert ever and I sure hope they can come back when they do another BC tour or festival.

Pat left just a few minutes after Pete and Karen – off to Texada for the weekend. I have done nothing at home (in the sewing room) for a week so I said I was staying home and trying to get this quilt done. Once I have things set up for quilting I don’t often change to do “regular” piecing so it needs to be off the machine. With the house empty, and a load of laundry started, I sat and read a chapter in my book because it is due back at the library early next week. I have my reports done for tonight’s Guild meeting so I’m going to get started on some quilting now before it is time to go out – just as soon as I switch laundry loads (there’s always something!).

Monday, October 30, 2017

When I went over to Texada on Saturday I had no intention of spending more than a day. But the timing for the ferry on Sunday was tricky. Pat had a cord of wood being delivered on Sunday afternoon so that meant I’d have to come back on the late morning ferry. Which was okay, but Pat said if I waited until the late afternoon ferry he would come home too. But we were having wood delivered so I thought it would be nice to stay long enough to have a fire in the wood stove. We ended up coming back on the late morning ferry today.

As always it was a lovely weekend. I ordered (and received) a sewing/craft table from Amazon and Pat had it set up when I got there. We did a few furniture changes in the room so when I’m crafting I can see out the window. Dad’s cedar chest is under the Celtic Cross quilt; no photos this time as I neglected to take my camera. The set up must work for me because I finished two projects while I was there. I used a folding chair as my seat but the sewing stool I have (from a yard sale at some point) will be the perfect height and it has two drawers in it as a bonus.

We had a couple of visitors this weekend, as well as the two fellows who delivered the wood. We were barely back from the ferry when we saw someone in our driveway, and actually coming up our driveway. The JWs have found us! Also the man who runs the coffee shop in Van Anda came over on Sunday; he didn’t stay long but did a quick walk through of the house (just seemed nosy to me). Pat enjoys all the social goings-on; me not so much!

It was a beautiful weekend weather-wise and we did a nice drive on Saturday afternoon. After a long drive down a logging road we found Shingle Beach. I’m not sure if it would be a good swimming beach but it was fun to poke around; they hold a huge Diversity Festival there every summer. There was a huge sea lion just off the shore and a couple of large, long-necked birds out in the water – swans maybe. I picked up a couple of nice shells and I’m looking for something to write the date and location on – I may start a collection.

I should have been cleaning this afternoon but I just wasn’t in the mood. A lot of my work was already done but with sewing tomorrow I know (and don’t care) that I’ll be scrambling on Wednesday morning. I got a couple of parcels ready for the mail tomorrow; it is surprising how long the unpacking takes after a weekend. I have my project all ready for the bee tomorrow so, if Pat goes to the movie tonight, maybe I’ll get the kitchen floor scrubbed.