Tuesday, December 13, 2016

I was out to the bee first thing this morning. I haven’t been for awhile and even though I really didn’t have anything to work on I was looking forward to it. I had some books to look through (the new techniques I want to learn) but at the last minute I threw in my knitting because the weeks at the Clubhouse are my hand stitching days. This was a Mini Meez week and, although I didn’t have anything physical to show, I took along my iPad with photos of the Christmas work I had done.

I did lots of visiting and not much knitting. Today was the AGM for the Senior Citizens Association to which, as a Timberlane Guild member, I belong to. One of our Guild members (and Tuesday stitchers) is the Secretary and she wanted to get lots of quilters out to try and oust many members of the current board.

There were less than a dozen of us quilters at the meeting and we didn’t have much influence. The Association have a new VP (a former Guild member) and a new Secretary (our current Guild member wouldn’t run because of the results of the vote for President). Both her and her husband have been very active in running the Hall and neither one of them would allow their names to stand this year.

The meeting was very contentious; there were all sorts of rules and by-laws broken according to some very vocal members (but not quilters). If I didn’t have to be a member I certainly wouldn’t be but unless they change something in our Guild relationship with the Hall it doesn’t matter much to me who is running things.

The meeting did waste the better part of the day though. A carload of us left the Clubhouse at about 11:30 and it was almost 4:00 by the time we got back!

We’re off to the movie tonight.

Monday, December 12, 2016

I thought what with having all my Christmas “stuff” finished I might be able sleep in a bit this morning. I guess I’m just wired to wake up early. I was awake at my usual time (7:00 AM) but decided to stay in bed awhile longer. I got up about eight, wandered out to the kitchen and then decided I’d go back to bed and see if I could go back to sleep. No such luck, but at least I stayed in bed until 8:30. There was no rush to get at anything so I spent more than an hour on my iPad checking mail, Facebook, and doing a puzzle. I decided that when I took my cards to the mailbox I’d stop at the bank and make a Cranberry Hall deposit; when I was getting the deposit ready I had a cheque to write on their behalf so while I was out I dropped that off.

I’ve been upstairs for more than an hour now and I’ve accomplished absolutely nothing – I have a few new ideas though so maybe that counts.

I’ve been saving my empty spools when the thread runs out and I think I’ve come up with an idea of how to use them. Stay tuned until next Christmas and I’ll see how that works out for me!

While I was reading my mail (it’s all about selling stuff this time of year) I came across a pattern that I really liked. The e-version was on sale for just $1.99 but when I investigated further it was from a book I was sure I had seen. I looked through my bookcase but didn’t find it so this afternoon I took another look at the pattern and decided I would order it. I’m glad I checked the Guild library listing first (I created it so I have it on my computer) and I see that the book is in our library so I’ll check it out the next time I’m at at the Guild.

For the rest of the afternoon I’ll attempt some clean-up in one or the other (or maybe both) of my studio rooms. I’d like to start working on one of my two new techniques but I think I’ll work better in less mess!

Sunday, December 11, 2016

This morning as I finished the binding on my cards I pondered what I would do next. Of course I had to make the envelopes for the cards but that would take an hour at most. Would I spend the rest of the day reading? Would I knit and catch up to Pat on some Netflix shows?

Just before noon Pat started rummaging around in the fridge to start making something for dinner because he was heading out to the Song Circle after lunch. He said he had a cabbage roll soup recipe he wanted to try. Now I love cabbage rolls (and Audrey’s in particular) but I didn’t think cabbage roll soup sounded right so I volunteered to make a cabbage roll casserole.

When he took out the pork and hamburger from the freezer there was too much for just the casserole. So we took out some lamb and I said I’d make (and freeze) our Tourtière for Christmas Eve. When I checked my recipes there were a few things I needed at the store so I did a bit of shopping first.

I started on the meat pies soon after I got home and had two made and out of the oven at about the time the casserole needed to be started. I have a Guild pot luck this week and I’ll take the extra one as my contribution to the table.

It’s almost five now, the casserole is in the oven and I don’t need to worry about what to do with my day – it’s gone!

Saturday, December 10, 2016

I had a productive day yesterday and finished my card tops with the exception of a half dozen seams that I stitched this morning. Today was all about quilting and getting the binding on them. They are all ready for me to do the hand stitching on this evening; by Monday they will be in the mail and I’ll be done! And it really isn’t that late even though it feels like I’ve been running from behind over the last several weeks.

I called Brian today to wish him a Happy Birthday. Imagine my surprise when he told me that his birthday isn’t until tomorrow. Since I first knew Brian I’ve wished him a Happy Birthday on the 10th. He said I shouldn’t feel bad because Diane often woke him on the 10th by singing Happy Birthday. I’m surprised she didn’t correct me over the years but I’m glad I’ve got it straight now – one extra day to get his card ready in future years!

Pat is playing at a restaurant in Lund tonight; it is the start of their annual Scandinavian Yulebord. From the photos I saw of the menu choices it was pretty much all small fish of some sort – no doubt lots of herring, picked and otherwise. I opted to stay home and make cookies for the Song Circle tomorrow afternoon.

The snow that was predicted for today didn’t arrive, just lots of mist and rain. Occasionally there were a few flakes of snow in the mix but nothing to worry about. I hope the temperatures stay above freezing until Pat gets home tonight; it could get icy on some of the hills and curves between Lund and home.

What did arrive today was one of my new toys – the templates for free-motion quilting. I had to work hard not to open the package up and give it a try (I was, after all, doing some quilting) but I resisted the urge and I’ll look forward to spending time learning a new technique over the Christmas holidays. It is hard to determine just what the Christmas holidays are when you are retired. I consider it holiday time from the moment my last gift/card is in the mail until after New Years.

Off now to start those cookies – Whipped Shortbread. While they bake I’ll start stitching the binding down on my cards.