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?

Friday, January 27, 2017

I promised myself I’d get back to some cross stitching once my Celtic Crystal quilt top was finished. I did a bit last night and wanted to get more done today so I could add to my cross-Canada cross stitch challenge. I decided before I started that I would cut the batting and backing for the cards I have ready to go. And once I had everything cut it seemed to make sense to get them all spray-basted too.

There was still quite a bit of time for cross stitching before I had to head out for some errands and to sit at a table in the grocery store in an attempt to sell quilt show raffle tickets. I was a bit later leaving than I expected as Trevor came around to talk about the bathroom remodel. I had time for only a stop at the post office to mail a couple of things and time to drop off a payment at a storefront just next door to the grocery store.

I was later arriving than I wanted to be; I planned to be there by 1:45 but it was closer to 1:55 before I got to our table. The ladies doing the first shift were very talkative and eventually we got around to the fact that I was to be there tomorrow, not today. I remember saying that I was selling tickets in the afternoon of the same day we were invited to a 65th birthday party, and I knew the party wasn’t until tomorrow. But the calendar said today so off I went.

I was able to get the rest of my errands done and had time to do some quilting this afternoon. I used a new-to-me quilting stitch on my machine and I’m pleased with it. The rest of the cards will probably get an all-over stipple as that is what I’ll be doing on my next show project so the cards will be a warm up to that.

We’re off to a Tom Waits event tonight. The original plan was to have several local musicians play some Tom Waits tunes before they showed a concert (on DVD). Apparently Pat was the only one who signed up so he will do a couple of tunes before they start the video. It is at a new location in town – The Sugar Vault – which, from what I understand, offers drinks and desserts. I’m surprised I haven’t been before as it sounds like my kind of place!

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Today should have been paperwork day but I really wanted to get my quilt top done. There were a few things I had to get done though before getting at the quilt; I paid some personal bills, I paid some bills for Cranberry Hall, I got a Cranberry Hall deposit ready for tomorrow, and I got a couple of packages wrapped and ready for the mail.

Pat was out for awhile this morning but he was expecting a delivery at the front door. I can hear someone knock at the back door if I’m in my studio but there is no chance I’d hear someone at the front door. I went to the basement and made a start on a new knitting project. While I was down there I cleared off the table beside my chair; it had patterns and bits of yarn strewn all over it, as well as a few pairs of needles. I doubt it will make the knitting any faster but it isn’t quite so cluttered.

While I was waiting for the knock on the door the postman dropped off the mail and I got a very unexpected package. One of the members of one of the cross stitch groups I belong to had a little give-away before Christmas. All you had to do was make a comment on her post and … surprise … my name was drawn. I had no idea what I would be getting as there were various prizes and mine was the fifth and last name picked. My package arrived today and I couldn’t be happier or more surprised. This is a full kit with fabric and floss included; there are a couple of stitches in the pattern that I’ve never used so it will be a learning project for me. Most of my family know how much I love snowmen so I couldn’t have had a better gift. I’m going to pick up a Starbuck’s card for the sender.

But back to my sewing. I had six borders to attach when I started the day. By the time I had a very late lunch (about 2:30) there were still two more to go. They are all finished now and I’ve taken the photograph that will accompany my show entry form. I’m going to put this one away for a bit (but not too long) as I’m a bit sick of it. I have two other show entries that need to be quilted so I’ll start on them.