Tuesday, February 7, 2017

No snow for a whole day! People are digging out driveways and clearing sidewalks. We were out this morning and the main roads are clear but side streets still looked pretty grim. In spite of all the snow I spotted some daffodils poking up in a pot beside the house; Pat says the ones in the yard are up as well.

I was standing at the kitchen sink this morning thinking that I would, after all, go out to quilting. Just then a fire truck went by and my thought was that perhaps the roads still weren’t clear. A few minutes later I noticed on Facebook that the restaurant next to the Senior’s Centre was closed for the day so I assumed that part of town was worse than ours and decided not to bother.

Pat had some errands to run, as did I, so we headed out together in the truck. If I’d been able to get past the pile of snow at the edge of the driveway I wouldn’t have had any trouble on the streets. I got my cards in the mail, and my photos done for the Guild. When we were done in Westview we drove down to the Senior’s Centre so I could drop the photos off to the woman running the quilt raffle. Again all the roads were clear.

When we got home I did a bit of cleaning (House Concert this week) and then got back to my quilting. I have just a couple of borders left to complete. I’m glad this went as quickly as it did because next week is the Film Festival so there will be very little time for quilting. With this one done though I’ll have a couple of weeks to work on Blossoms.

It may be a lovely, sunny day today but I’m not fooled – they are predicting more snow tomorrow night!

Monday, February 6, 2017

There was more snow overnight and for most of the day today. I postponed my meet-up this morning because, with the frost overnight, I expected the roads to be slippery. Facebook was full of closures (shops, social gatherings, events) so I thought it best to stay at home. I would have liked to have made it to the post office with my mail but if cards are late there is no harm done. I promised I would have some Guild photos ready for pick-up at the bee tomorrow but but I didn’t make it to Walmart, and I’m already thinking I won’t go to the bee anyway. Another Facebook post says we’ve had almost 18″ of snow since Friday – almost twice the amount as Gibsons and more than Comox or Campbell River. It can stop anytime now!

I spent the morning doing the prep work I would normally do to get ready for a bee – scraps cut and put away, a few flying geese pieces cut, three more Bingo blocks ready to go, a couple of sleeves and a label. I also have two more cards that need to be put together before the end of the month. I could work on them at home tomorrow if I don’t go out but, since I’m set up for quilting, I think I’ll finish that first.

I’m probably about half finished my Les Ceresiers II project. I misread some of my notations and ended up with a blanket stitch rather than a satin stitch around the fans. Once I realized my mistake it was too late to take it out and start over so I continued on. I was able to switch to a satin stitch after the fans were done. I have all the circles done in the centre – I just have to find the right circle template for the small fans in the corner. After that I’ll be on to some free-motion and, although I worry about doing it, it goes very quickly.

One of the participants at the weekend retreat in England posted some photos. I thought it was just four of the people from France taking part but there were two more familiar faces in the crowd. The only ones missing were me, Sheila (from England) and Gail (from France). Not fair!

My knitting took a bit of a back-step last night; I checked with Christy yesterday and I needed to add a few inches to the length so I had to take out the part I’d done after the neck line. It knits quickly though so I’ll be caught up in no time.

Sunday, February 5, 2017

I cannot believe the snow we are getting. Some folks are saying they haven’t seen this much snow in over 20 years. It has been melting today but it has also been snowing off and on most of the day. I cleared off the sidewalk this afternoon so the mailman could deliver mail tomorrow but it may have to be done again. I guess the temperature is critical now; if it freezes everything that I cleared will have a coating of ice. I have to go out tomorrow morning so I’m hoping we get rain overnight.

I started quilting one of my projects today. I panic thinking I’ll never get two done this month but when I realize it is only the 5th I calm down. I have a busy week ahead so I’m glad this particular project can be done in small stages.

Saturday, February 4, 2017

I planned to attend a seminar today about publishing your own eBook but, early this morning, it was postponed. The snow didn’t go away last night – in fact we had even more of it. It is melting now and big clumps are falling off the trees and the wires; there is a large branch off the tree across at City Hall but no other problems for us. There are folks south of town without power, no doubt due to branches falling on wires. I don’t think we’ll see the end of this for a few more days.

My plan for today was to do a few little tasks in my sewing room before heading out this afternoon. Since I had a longer block of time I worked on my quilt challenge piece this morning. After lunch I pin-basted my Fan Club quilt; four of the ladies from the class in France are together again this weekend at a sewing retreat so it seemed fitting that I should work on this last project from France.

After being on my hands and knees my back, hips and knees are feeling a bit overworked. I’ll have a glass of wine and relax for the rest of the day – I know those ladies in England are drinking wine, having a fab time and they will be chuffed that I’m getting this project done!