My kind of day

Journal

Friday, March 19, 2021

I’ve had a great day!

Last night I finished a book so this morning I picked out my next one. It wasn’t much of a choice because the one I finished is due back at the library, the next one is a library book, and I have another one waiting at the library for me to pick up.

I finished some paperwork while I waited for a call this morning and after the call I sat in my chair and got the bindings stitched down on my last two projects. When that was done I made a cake; once it is cool I will ice it.

The best news of the day came at lunch when Pat was online and noticed that we can register for our Covid vaccine tomorrow afternoon. I’m only eleven days past my second Shingles vaccine so I hope that doesn’t interfere. I guess if I have to wait I at least know I’ll “get the jab” soon.

Seminole & Seminole Mini

Quilting

I finished the first row of this in June, 2015. It was a Guild project where we got a new row once a month. Needless to say I fell behind very quickly.

Five years later I picked up the project again and got both the quilt and the miniature to the sandwiched stage.

~ 32″ x 46″

The project came up again as my March UFO Challenge and I very much enjoyed working on it again. The bright colours certainly cheered me up on gloomy days and on brighter days it made me want to be outside.

When the Guild called for additional entries into the 2025 quilt show I decided to enter this one.

Karen, a Guild member, started us on a row-a-month using Seminole patchwork techniques. I very quickly fell behind but I managed to finish it several years later. The bright colours cheered me up on gloomy days and, on brighter days, it made me want to be outside. Quilted on my domestic Janome.

I think I used every quilting stitch in my quilting repertoire. The star, the diagonal boxes, and my new favourites – the mattress stitch and one-quarter from the ditch.

~ 20″ x 22″

The miniature will be used for a Hands Across the Water Challenge; it is made using scraps from the larger quilt. When we planned for the event in March last year the theme for the challenge was Escape Into Colour. I’m hoping that when we are again able to host the event the theme won’t have changed.

The Things We Cannot Say

Books

Author: Kelly Rimmer

Another story emerging from the Second World War; this one takes place in Poland during the war and in the US many years after the war.

Aline and Tomasz grew up in Poland and were engaged when Tomasz left their small village to attend medical school. When the war broke out Aline’s hardships on the farm were no less difficult than Tomasz’ in the city. Tomasz eventually makes his way back to the village but he’s in hiding because of his work helping the Jewish population. A chance for them to escape by smuggling photos out of Poland arises and they take it.

Alice is Aline’s granddaughter. Aline has suffered a stroke and is unable to speak but she manages to communicate to Alice that she wants her to go back to Poland. Alice is given a short list of names and addresses with no explanation as to who or what they mean.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

More signs of Spring

Journal

Thursday, March 18, 2021

We are getting brief spots of sun today between wind and showers so weather-wise it isn’t feeling very spring-like.

But I was out getting a couple of birthday gifts this morning and the cherry trees behind Walmart are coming into blossom. They aren’t entirely pink yet but they will be very soon.

I was at the drug store after lunch and the trees beside the medical clinic are also out. They are a much brighter shade of pink and, I think, a little further ahead than the Walmart ones.

When I pulled into the driveway after being out the forsythia in the neighbours yard is starting to come out.

And if those weren’t enough signs the birds are out in numbers. Today as I stood at the window by the deck I saw two ravens fly by and both of them had something trailing from their beaks – nest-making time I guess.