Thursday, September 8, 2016

I’ve spent all day at my computer and for the first time in a long time I feel like I’m getting somewhere with the Cranberry Hall accounts.

I started by making a new set of files – ones that I know what the titles mean and where everything is stored in the right place. I won’t bother sorting through the box of files I received when I took over this job because I can’t make any sense of how things were sorted or filed. I have a nice set of eight file folders that will fit in a portable file box and I’ll have everything at hand that I might need for meetings.

I had to make quite a few phone calls to regular renters to see if they wanted an invoice or if they had money for me. Several were saying they had money but didn’t know who to give it to. I’ve made arrangements with most of them to accept their money and, in most cases, pick it up. This will eliminate some of the problems I’ve had with money being deposited and no one remembering who paid or what it was for. In the past I think it was left up to the renters to pay whatever they thought they should whenever they wanted; I’m not quite as lenient!

The files I took the accountant were very messy (and frankly embarrassing) so I’ve put all the Cranberry Hall records into my accounting program. End of the month reconciliations will be much easier and I can make the entries as I receive money or write cheques. This has worked well to eliminate “crunch” issues with Pat’s accounting and I think it will work well for this group.

It took most of the day, but I’m quite pleased with myself. I like the accounting work; I just don’t like the mess I feel like I’ve been in since I started this job.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Today was card day and to start things off I got two cards ready for the mail and another one wrapped, along with a present, for personal delivery. One card didn’t actually need to be mail until tomorrow but the other one was late so they both went out today. I need a better system for getting cards made and then sent out on time. I thought what I was doing was working but I’ve been late with quite a few this month. Since I’m only doing cards once a week I think I’m going to have to complete each card as I make it rather than wait until I have a bunch. I have another three cards quilted, bound and waiting for some hand stitching; that leaves me with just one September card to get ready.

Since I was so close to being done cards, and my reminder for October cards is a week away, I searched for and found a couple of patterns I’ll use for Guild projects. As part of our community program we have provided banners and wall coverings for our residential care facility. They moved into a new building last year and apparently the residents are divided into various houses – sounds like my high school days! A request has been made for birthday banners for each housing unit. No patterns were supplied but I found a picture online and I think I can design something similar. We also supply quilts to the Oncology ward at the hospital and, although they need more quilts (I have two in my bin that need to be quilted), they have asked for some chemo caps. I found a pattern online for that as well – it was harder to find than you might think.

It started to sprinkle rain just as I was walking to the mailbox with my cards but this afternoon we had some serious rain. As I was at my cutting board I looked out the window and saw these two deer in the neighbour’s yard. We often see deer over there and she says the bear wanders through her yard most nights; the bear is much more elusive than the deer though. Once the rain stopped the deer moved on.

Our cinematheque series starts tonight. It has been so long since we’ve been to a movie!

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

I was back with the Guild today and who can be blue with the laughter that goes on at the bee.

My single accomplishment was one more Celtic Crystal block but I’ve resigned myself to the fact that this isn’t going to be a fast finish.

Monday, September 5, 2016

I’m not feeling much joy today – I’m not sure if I’m depressed or if the stormy weather has me fearing summer is over. Whatever the reason I’m not accomplishing a whole lot and I don’t really care.

I didn’t do any prepping for the bee tomorrow. I think we have a work session for our fall event so there probably won’t be a lot of sewing time and I already have two Celtic Crystal blocks prepared. I hate that I was put on the committee just because I offered to do the recipe book. Somehow volunteering for that put me on the committee and now I have to do all sorts of other things. Bummer!

Our new layout for my Blossom quilt bothered me all night – I just didn’t think it was going to work. I cut a couple more sashing pieces this morning and verified that it wouldn’t go together as planned. I can still make it work but it means cutting extra fabric and more sewing. Bummer!

I didn’t need to do much work for my cards. I cut out the templates for the last September card. Since Alex’s gift and card need to get in the mail tomorrow I made a quick trip out for his gift. When I got home I found a small box and got it wrapped and ready. That was when I realized I’d forgotten to take a photo. Bummer!

I was ready for more basting for I’m A Farmer’s Daughter and I got 60 more templates and fabric cut. It’s nice to have that ready for the evenings, but it is boring work.

In an attempt to improve my mood I’m going to do some cross stitching this afternoon (always relaxing for me) and I’ll look forward to knitting tonight (pretty mindless work).