Tuesday, January 31, 2017

It felt like winter when I headed out for the bee this morning. I had to take time to scrape the frost off my back window – the sides and windshield were clear but I guess the back end of the car was unprotected and ended up being covered in frost. It was the first time I’ve used my new scraper so I guess I didn’t spend my $8 in vain.

I was all set to get the bindings on some cards before moving on but I drew a blank on how to join the ends. I use a single fold binding and I usually don’t have to even think about it. After getting the first one wrong I was more careful but ended up with another one that had to be restitched and a third one that had to be mended to make it work. I’m not sure why I was so “off” but they are done now and ready to hand stitch.

I got the second week of my Wild Goose Wednesday finished but as I was trimming them I had a horrible feeling I had trimmed them too small. I trimmed the ones from the first week after checking my directions but I only trimmed five of the eight for this week. Sure enough, when I got home I checked and I see that the size they give is the finished size, not the unfinished size. I could continue with the size I have but since I’m early in the process I think I will redo them.

With all of those issues I didn’t get any further, other than getting another Bingo block finished.

When I came out of quilting I found that my sweater and scarf were way too warm for the day we were having. And as I was carrying my sewing stuff in from the car I noticed a bit of colour in one of the pots in the yard. Sure enough our Hellebores has a blossom and there are at least half a dozen more buds.

It feels like Spring!

Monday, January 30, 2017

I slept late this morning and started my day with some cross stitching. I haven’t caught up with my Facebook groups for a couple of weeks and I had a bit of back stitching I wanted to get done before I took photos. When I was posting to the groups I found another Canada 150 pattern that I want to make. It took me awhile to find a Canadian shop with the pattern in stock but I eventually found it in Winnipeg and it is on its way to me. It is actually called “Canvas Work” so it will be a new technique for me – always good to keep the brain cells working.

I have everything ready to go for the bee tomorrow – fabric cut for week 2 of Wild Goose Wednesday, binding picked for all my cards, and two more cards that I didn’t have time to get to last week. I cut out a few more squares for my Bingo quilt; if I get all that done I’ll be very surprised.

As part of my routine I sorted through a few more scraps. I am close to having one bin emptied and then I hope to rearrange some of my fabric – either my scraps or my yardage. A lot of pieces are too small for me to want to keep (unless it is a strip of 1.5″ I pass it along) but my friend Carola takes all the bits she can get. If I think the scraps are too small for Carola they go into a pillow case and eventually become a dog pillow for the SPCA.

I’ve done all that and there is still time left in the day to start filling in the forms for my quilt show entries. I also have to check on a few of the pieces to be sure they have a label and sleeve; if I’m keeping a piece for myself I don’t always add those.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

I was sitting and cross stitching this afternoon and my mind wandered back to Sunday afternoons at home. After the rush of Sunday School, lunch, and then back to Church, I remember the quiet of a Sunday afternoon. I don’t know how I spent those afternoons, maybe reading or doing homework, but my mind was relaxed and quiet. There were Sunday drives in the summer and often a drive over-West to look at the crops. I remember the smell of a roast cooking as we came in the door from church and, in summer, fruit salad and ice cream for supper.

Sunday evenings meant Bonanza, with Mum doing her embroidery in the chair beside the stereo. There were times when someone (and occasionally Dad) was getting their hair curled, but most likely it was Stacia and I with curlers in our hair.

For as long as I remember I’ve hated Sunday nights. I remember laying in bed on a Sunday night not wanting to start the new week. Whether there was school or work the next day I just didn’t want my time at home to be over. I realize now though that I no longer dread Sunday night – my weeks are filled with (mostly) things I love doing.

And speaking of things I love doing – I’m going to go back to my cross stitching.

Saturday, January 28, 2017

I was sitting upstairs this morning doing the last bit of quilting on my cards when it hit me. I had all the photos done yesterday but I had neglected to take a photo of my Blossoms quilt. I’ve planned since Day 1 to have that in the show and I nearly missed out. If the entry isn’t accompanied by a photo it isn’t really an entry and the entry forms need to be in by Thursday. I got the photo done today so again, I think, I’m ready to go.

This afternoon I did my two hour shift selling raffle tickets. We were at Quality Foods, in the exit area; I’ve sold tickets there before and I knew it would be cold but it was absolutely freezing today. We had blankets to cover our legs and I had two sweaters, a scarf and a headband keeping me warm; I thought my gloves were in my purse but they weren’t and my hands are still freezing.

We’re off tonight to a 65th birthday party. We go to Dan and Judy’s at least once a year for a gathering – lots of good food, lots of good company and lots of music. Pat has already warned me he plans to stay until the “bitter end” this time (which I have heard can be at 4 AM). I wonder if they will mind if I snooze on the couch?