Do You Remember?

You will have to be a certain age to remember these.  Hope they start your long weekend with a smile.

Lost Words from our childhood:

 

Mergatroyd! Do you remember that word? Would you believe the spell-checker did not recognize the word Mergatroyd? Heavens to Mergatroyd!

 

The other day a not so elderly (I say 75) lady said something to her son about driving a Jalopy; and he looked at her quizzically and said, "What the heck is a Jalopy?"

 

Well, I hope you are Hunky Dory after you read this and chuckle.

 

About a month ago, I illuminated some old expressions that have become obsolete because of the inexorable march of technology. These phrases included: Don't touch that dial, carbon copy, you sound like a broken record, and hung out to dry. Heavens to Betsy! Gee whillikers! Jumping Jehoshaphat! Holy moley!

 

We were in-like-Flynn and living the-life-of-Riley; and even a regular guy couldn't accuse us of being a knucklehead, a nincompoop or a pill. Not for all-the-tea-in-China!

 

Back in the olden days, life used to be swell, but when's the last time anything was swell? Swell has gone the way of beehives, pageboys and the D.A.

 

Oh, my aching back! Kilroy was here, but he isn't anymore.

 

Long gone: Pshaw, The milkman did it. Hey! ...it's your nickel! Don't forget to pull the chain. Knee high to a grasshopper. Well, Fiddlesticks! Going like sixty. I'll see you in the funny papers. Don't take any wooden nickels. Blow it out your shorts. Wake up and smell the roses.

 

It turns out there are more of these lost words and expressions than Carter has liver pills. This can be disturbing stuff! (Carter's Little Liver Pills are gone too!)

 

We of a certain age have been blessed to live in changeable times. For a child each new word is like a shiny toy, a toy that has no age. We at the other end of the chronological arc have the advantage of remembering there are words that once did not exist and there were words that once strutted their hour upon the earthly stage and now are heard no more, except in our collective memory. It's one of the greatest advantages of aging.

 

Leaves us to wonder where Superman will find a phone booth...

 

See ya later, alligator!

Okidoki.

Kept Safe

Good news.  Yesterday, I shared with you a note from reader Nancy who wrote about the quilt she was doing.  I had asked if she would share a photo and she has agreed.  Nancy, if you click on "My Facebook Page" to the right of the post that will take you it.  I am looking forward to seeing what you have done so far.
I was going to go for a walk through the bush yesterday with Heidi but decided against it as it was windy.  This is the tree that came down right along the path.

 The tree was really rotten at the base so it is no wonder it came down.

The tree was a good 80 feet and just to  the left is the trail.  It was strewn with smaller branches and twigs.  Thanking the Lord for keeping me safe.

I am still working on fair entries and am almost finised.  This morning hubby decided that today would be a good one to move the freezer from the mud room to the sun room.  Our home is quite small so not a lot of places to put things so, sunroom is where it went.  I really didn't have the time so am thankful hubby did the greatest part of the work but I had to be ready to fetch and carry and get things out of the way.  I still have some rearranging in that area but it can wait. Tomorrow is the last day for getting the sewing finished and then I can get at something else.
Blessings,

Quilting Autobiography

Nancy A. I would love to see and share a picture of your queen size quilt made with 2 inch diamonds and hexis.  I can't imagine doing a quilt that size in 2 inches pieces.  I have just completed the top for a couple of placemats that I will be entering in our fall fair.  It turned out to be more involved than it appeared to be from the photo although not as challenging as Nancy's quilt.  I had to do a lot of pinning, unstitching and adjusting of seams to get everything to look right.  This is not a project I would usually consider.  However, I decided to keep at it because it is good to try something new and I really do need to work on increasing my skills.  I hope to have them finished tomorrow and will share a photo.

 I was working on this scrappy over the weekend and while it was easy, I don't think I really like the colours.  I will wait until I have the blocks finished and then see how I feel about it.  It is going to be a charity quilt.  I will back it with flannel or fleece.

This block is on the quilt that I restored for a customer.  The blue print had started coming apart at the seams and I was able to repair it without replacing the fabric. I am pleased with how it has turned out.

Those pictures are a small autobiography of my quilting life and how it is changing and, hopefully, progressing.

Blessings,

A Fun Day with Friends

I had a wonderful, relaxing and fun day yesterday.  Three quilting friends and I met at the cottage owned by one ladies father.  We all took hand sewing so we didn't have to lug a lot of equipment and were able to sit and quilt while overlooking a lake.  I took my 'project that never ends'.  I have been working on a hand appliqued quilt for at least 7 years now.  I have two more sashing borders to do and I can start assembling it.  Perhaps I will have it done next year. Twenty twenty seems like a good goal.
After lunch,  we all went down to the boat house. No, we weren't going for a boat rider, we are quilters remember.  We helped our hostess sort through a number of boxes and totes that contained fabric. Some were put into a bag to be given to a thrift shop, others were put in a tote to share with the quilt group.  We each had a chance to choose what we liked for ourselves.
With that finished, we went to the summer room to do some more quilting and enjoy a cup of tea.  It was a glorious day and, when we were ready to go back home, I think we all would have preferred staying where we were.  However, husbands were waiting, so home we went.
I am washing the fabric I got while cutting squares for a Virtual Retreat that I am on this weekend.
I hope you are also getting some quilting done.  It is only 4 months and 2 days before Christmas!
Blessings,

Life is Good

Today was busy.  I had to get some grocery shopping done and, as I had a doctor's appointment I figured I might as will fill up the day.
I got back from shopping around 1 and then back out the door and into the village for the doctor. Then it was lab work and pharmacy.  We got home just in time to make supper.  I say 'we' because hubby drove me to everything as he was concerned about how safe I would have been driving.  I am sure I was alright but it is nice to have someone care enough for you to inconvenience themselves.
Often a person feels they have to spend a lot of money on gifts, flowers, trips whatever but the most appreciated gift is ones self.  I am so glad that hubby and I have that kind of marriage.  It didn't happen right away, of course.   The first few months were pretty bad as two people used to being on their own adjusted to having another person around all the time. It didn't help that I was in the beginning stages of menopause-probably should be a law forbidding marriage at that time or at least not without a lot of counselling.
I think our determination to succeed and our faith in God was what kept us together for one more day, one more month, one more decade.  And now, here we are with our anniversary coming up at the end of the month.  I can't imagine life without him and he feels the same about me.  Life is good. And tomorrow I quilt.
Blessings,

Join a Great Quilt Group

Tomorrow, hubby, Heidi and I are going to the annual Burk's Falls Country Jamboree.  This is our yearly treat and we look forward to a few hours of relaxing and listening to local and area talent.  As I have mentioned a number of times before, there are other types of music I will listen to before country but the these entertainers aren't the nasally, depressive types that you usually hear on the radio.
Of course, being away means I have to get tomorrow's work done today but that is okay.
It has been threatening to rain all day and is predicted again for tomorrow but, so far, other than dark clouds, there hasn't been any precipitation.  Perhaps it will all tonight and then be okay for tomorrow.  In addition to the Jamboree, tomorrow is also the village wide yard sale.  The Art Centre is participating.  It is our biggest fundraiser.  Sales have been good this year and I think it is largely due to accepting debit and credit cards.
The geraniums I grew from seed this spring are not doing very well because of the lack of moisture so I dug them up and put them back into pots.  They have joined the other plants on the deck and will not get watered more frequently.
The on line group Hearts 2 Hands is having a virtual retreat next week.  One of the members is hosting it and has found a pattern that can be made in a day.  I am going to do mine with baby fabric.  If you would like to be part of a friendly, creative, accepting and supportive quilting group, give us a try.  It is a Yahoo group so you just have to Google-yahoo groups hearts2hands.
You will receive a great welcome,
Blessings,

Fall Fair Time Already

It is hard to switch my thoughts from summer to fall fairs but, come the month of September, they will be happening.  I made a list of the categories in which I want to enter and now will have to start deciding what to make.

One of the items in the sewing class is a pair of pillowcases.  I have just finished a set for a customer and, as she won't be picking them up until after the fair, I am going to see if I can get permission to enter them.

I also completed a small table cover but won't be entering it in the fair as I am going to be using the full size version for one of the quilt categories.  I am getting started much earlier than I usually do so hopefully I won't be in the last minute panic that happens most years.

 This final photo I took a couple of nights ago as the sun was disappearing behind the trees.  I am always drawn to an evening sky more than morning as it is so dramatic.  I can visualize all sorts of things happening -jet trails, hot air balloons drifting slowly amongst the clouds, birds scurrying home or the sudden explosion of fireworks.

 On this particular evening, the sky just got darker until nothing could be seen except the gradual appearance of stars. Maybe tomorrow I will catch a glimpse of something emerging from behind the trees. Or all will be as serene as tonight.
Blessings,

Eye Candy

The work of some quilters is so far ahead of anything I could or would do that all I can do is look at them.  This hanging is a prime example.  Not only is the fabric and pattern design amazing but the workmanship shows a skill that I don't ever expect to achieve.

I saw this beauty on The Quilt Show.com Gulf Coast Sunrise by Susan Mogan is a beautiful quilt inspired by the New York Beauty pattern Susan's quilt was on display as part of the Abstract Small exhibit at the Houston International Quilt Festival 2018.


On the flip side of the creativity coin, I spent the day making a pair of pillowcases and a carry bag for my Janome.  This is the machine I take to group.  It is lightweight but I have so much stuff I take each time, it is nice to be able to pull something rather than lug it.  I made the bag so it will fit on the luggage rack hubby found for me and hold my rotary mat as well as machine.  It has a piece on the bag that will slide over the long handle to keep everything(I hope) secure. It will get a trial run this Monday.  I will let you know how I made out and share a photo.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the eye candy,
blessings,

Progress

Progress at last.  I finished making a replacement bed for my brother's hammock and did a matching pillow.  It will be picked up tomorrow. I am also finally completed this little table topper.  I am making a full sized quilt of the same pattern and it is ready to go on the frame.  It has been ready for some time but just hasn't got there.

Also on the 'to do' list is a customer's pillow case set, 2 quilts and another for a charity.  In between all this, I am editing a book I wrote a long time ago with plans to put it on Amazon Kindle.
I am sure, if I thought about it, I have a number of other things that need doing but I am going to try and not think about them right now.
We had a nice rainfall last night and I woke to the sound of the garden breathing a sigh of relief.  We need more moisture but what we got has returned some of the green to the lawn.
Blessings,

A Big Adventure

Thank you, Farm Quilter, for the comment.  Hubby and I are going to have a story to tell for many years.  It will be added to the 'big train ride' which is a tale we share with friends.
I have been friends with a couple for over forty years.  When I married hubby, he quickly became part of the group and we try to get together at least once a year.  Often it is to meet for a meal in another community that is somewhere half way between us. Other times we will try to do something together.
One year, we decided to take a train ride that was a tourist attraction in a nearby community.  From the write up, we assumed it would cover some of the older parts of the town and a few scenic areas around the lake.  We bought our tickets and found the train which was quite a bit small than we thought it would be.  It looked rather like an amusement park ride.  Nevertheless, we still looked forward to the adventure as off we chugged.  As we went along the lake, the guide mentioned some historic spots and told us that the tracks we were on were part of first train in the area.  In a short time, we came to a 'station' where everyone disembarked.  I assumed we would stop there, have a look around and then continue.  I was right, sort of.  We continued all right but it was back to the starting point.  The big excursion took, perhaps, 20 minutes.  We still laugh about our 'adventure'.
This time I am going to see if they would like to go to a community wide arts and crafts fair.  I know someone else who has been on it and it is more than one persons backyard.
Life has it fun times, doesn't it.
Blessings,