A productive week

Journal

Sunday, October 18, 2020

I’m quite pleased with my accomplishments for my week on Texada. My big goals were accomplished. I still had a few things I could have worked on but I decided I’d done enough so I packed everything up and spent what extra time I had starting a new book.

Clockwise from the left:

  • My October UFO – all the blocks are done but I wanted to wait until I was home to put them together. Unless I’m using steam and my wool pressing mat I don’t feel I’ve done a good job.
  • Several bits done for my Christmas projects.
  • The right side of my Thunderbird is done.
  • Clue 4 of my Mystery Quilt is done. This puts me ahead to February of next year while the Guild participants won’t get Clue 2 until next month.

The Golden Tulip

Books

Author: Rosalind Laker

There is so much in this book, set in Holland in the 17th century. Francesca Visser is the daughter of a painter (I don’t think he was real) and longs to pursue a painting career on her own. Both Rembrandt and Vermeer were contemporaries of her father and they figure into the story. There is even a reference to the painting which is the subject of the book The Goldfinch.

Tulips and the tulip trade also play a big role in the story. Tulip mania had ruined a number of fortunes and the search for unique colours and flowers leads to some of the mystery behind the characters. At the time of the story France is threatening to invade Holland for a second time.

But generally, this is the story of three young women and the struggles they encounter in their search for love.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

A few of my favourite things

Journal

Thursday, October 15, 2020

I’m enjoying a day away from my sewing machine and surrounded by a few of my favourite things.

  • Coffee in my new Grandma birthday cup.
  • Some cross stitching (and a small plant pot from Diane for my clippings).
  • My puzzle book (with pencil, eraser, sharpener and pen for the odd time I’m sure of an answer).

Happy Thanksgiving

Journal

Sunday, October 11, 2020

I picked the right day to come over to Texada. Friday was an absolute gale and Saturday was supposed to be nasty as well. Pat and I looked at the weather forecasts and thought an earlier ferry on Saturday was my best bet. The crossing was glorious and I even stood out in the sun while I waited to load on the Powell River side. The rest of the day was nice but it is back to heavy rain today.

When I contemplated pumpkin pie for our Thanksgiving dinner I didn’t know how I would manage it – taking all the ingredients to Texada seemed like a better idea than trying to do a walk-on with a pie. Christy suggested I buy a pumpkin pie filling so that’s what I did. I thought the pie filling would just need to go into the shell but there was an egg and evaporated milk involved as well. So really, all the filling gained me was not having to have a bunch of spices.

I got the filling ready after breakfast this morning and pre-heated the oven. The pie filling fit nicely into the shell and into the oven it went. It needed to bake at a higher temperature for 15 minutes and then for 35-45 minutes at a lower temperature. I set the timer and when it went off I reset the oven and again set the timer. After the expected amount of time I tested the filling but it wasn’t ready. The pie went back in the oven for another 15 minutes, then another 10 minutes and finally I called in the expert (Pat) for help.

Turned out that when I turned the timer off the very first time what I actually did was turn the oven off. So from that point on the pie wasn’t cooking at all. We sorted out what my problem was, reset everything and Pat took over for the rest of the process.

I’m thankful today for many things, and this pumpkin pie is just one of them.