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.

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.