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.

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

It was a hard sell but I managed to get myself out for a walk this morning. It was cooler and I walked before I did any watering. And, lucky me, by the time I got home it was sprinkling rain so I won’t need to water much today. The local berry truck was just getting set up in the parking lot when I headed out and by the time I got back they were ready for business. I bought a small basket of BC Cherries!

I spent what was left of the morning trimming up some half-square triangles for the mystery quilt I’m working on. I’m quite behind, but I’ve done some of all the steps so that I know that I know what I’m doing. The Guild announced today the fabric requirements for the fall mystery they will be doing. I’ve picked out some fabric for it but I’m not sure that I’ll do it. I really would like to get a few of my other projects finished but it is fun to be sewing along with a group.

I spent some time this afternoon working on my cross stitch sew-along. I’m really liking how it is turning out and I’m only a few stitches into step 2 with step 1 incomplete while I wait for thread to arrive. My other stitch-along (with Stacia and Deloise) is moving along too. I’ll be practicing my outline stitch and fly stitch tonight, unless I decide to go back to my knitting.

It has showered off and on most of the day but the sun is coming out now. I’m not sure we got enough to even green up the lawn but I enjoyed the day’s break from watering.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Here’s what I picked from the garden this morning, along with a few strawberries that I ate as I plucked them. My sunflower is in bloom and the bees seem to be happy with it. Pat has harvested a few peppers and we’ve picked one fig. There are at least three more figs forming right now.

I intended to go to sewing with the Guild today but by the time I finished the yard work I didn’t feel like it. I already had my project packed and my lunch waiting in the fridge but I just didn’t feel like stepping out the door. So I spent the morning working on the tasks that I would have been working on had I gone.

I am committed (or maybe I should be committed) to a new cross stitch project I’m following online. I’ve done one of their sew-alongs before and have been watching for a new one. When the first clue came out I was hesitant and unsure of whether I wanted to stitch it; there have been three releases so far and they just get cuter and cuter so I was hooked. I spent most of the afternoon yesterday stitching on the first pattern release and I love it, in spite of my indifference when it came out. I’ve had to order a few colours but they should be here by the end of the week and in the meantime I’m able to stitch around the spots that are missing.

Yesterday I also prepped the bonus block in my chicken project – I definitely feel I should be committed for doing that. If I can avoid the cross stitch I may work on the chickens this afternoon.

But right now, my lunch awaits me in the fridge.

Sunday, July 30, 2023

I’ve had a good couple of days and I’m learning to balance activities with naps. We hadn’t been for a walk for quite awhile so Friday morning after both Pat and I finished some video calls we headed out to the seawalk. The walking was so much easier than some of the walks/hikes we did on Texada. There weren’t as many water birds as we were seeing earlier in the summer but there were a couple of eagles, some herons, and some ducks and geese. As we were nearing the end of the walk we heard and saw a large humpback whale – the first time in a long time that they’ve been that close to shore. I had a nap that afternoon.

For something a bit different on Saturday I went back into the yard and pulled a few more weeds out of the trough in the driveway. The gardener is coming next weekend and this was one of the areas that I said we would look after so I’d like to have it done when she comes by. I have at least one more session, maybe two, before it is cleared. I tried for a nap in the afternoon but didn’t sleep – I did have some downtime though and a rest.

Last night I went to a show at Cranberry Hall – the first in a very long time because of Covid and then my treatments. It was a small crowd but there were lots of familiar faces. I have to admit it felt odd to be at a show and not working – or worrying about how things were being done. It will take some time to get used to that feeling but I’m up to that particular challenge.

Pat headed over to Texada this morning. Our neighbour is planning to be away this week but she wasn’t sure when she was leaving so I opted to stay home and look after the watering. All our plants are doing well and I don’t want to slack off now and lose them.

Over the last few days I’ve also manage some sewing – mostly work on my summer mystery quilt. I’ll probably go to the Guild sewing on Tuesday and I have lots of pressing and trimming to do so I won’t have to bother with my machine. I’ve cut another wool project out – a companion piece to the chicken project and I’ll be able to practice some of the fancier stitches on the small piece before attempting them on the “real” thing.

I chatted a bit with Emma this afternoon and she was suffering from a sunburn after a walk yesterday. I fully intended to go out for a walk after lunch but I’ve now decided I’ll wait until this evening when it is, hopefully, a bit cooler. I’m seldom accomplishing my daily walking goal but I’m getting a fair number of steps in every day.