Canada Day Contest.

I mentioned a couple of posts previously that I am going to have a draw.  In honour of Canada Day, I am going to start it now.  Prize is two precut packages of 2.5 inch squares.  If you prefer, you can have a face mask made with Canadian fabric.

To enter you have to share a bit of trivia about Canada i.e. we have the highest rate of literacy in the world.   You can post in the comments of this blog or on Facebook.  

Contest closes on July 3 and is open to everyone.  Winner will be announced on Monday July 6th.

Good luck.

Land of Many Lakes

I had a productive day.  After getting my much appreciated hair cut and then going to another community to pick up my serviced sewing machine, hubby and I bought a take out lunch which we shared with the dog.  Rather than returning home by way of the highway, we took a more rural route and enjoyed going through the villages, seeing the lakes, rock formations and forests.  (Did you know that Canada has the most lakes of any country in the world? Two million of them)   It was a nice little jaunt and we went through areas that I hadn't seen in a long time.

A nice cup of tea is always enjoyed when we get home from anywhere.    I drank mine while catching up on my emails.  I had one from a lady who wants me to make some masks for her grandchildren.  I am particularly pleased to get orders for little ones and try to do a little extra to make them special.  Girls may get some lace or fancy buttons, for the boys I try to find fabric that reflects their hobbies or other things they like.

I picked some of our huskap (honeyberries) after supper.  We haven't got very many yet as this is the first year for fruit.  They are really had to find as they are under the leaves and a dark blue.  I probably won't get enough to use for jam this year but will add what I do get to other fruit.

When the post office get caught up on their mail delivery a bit more, I am going to have a bit of a contest with a pack of 2 1/2 squares  as one of the prizes.  Thanks for being a faithful reader.  I do appreciate you.

Blessings,

Skunks and Roosters

For the past few days, we have had a small skunk wandering around the house.  It seemed quite young but we didn't see an adult anywhere.  The little one was around in the daytime much to the consternation of our dog.  We didn't really know what to do about it.  We thought about live trapping and moving it further away from the house but weren't sure if that was a good idea.
We have an animal rehab and sanctuary in the area so I phoned them today.  I was told that we needed the bring the animal in as it wasn't going to survive on its own.  I said we would do that and she let us know baby skunks have little to no spray which was a relief.  Hubby set out the live trap and we waited.  Just after supper this evening, the dog went crazy again and the unmistakable smell of skunk came through the windows.  We had trapped a mature skunk.  Hubby was able to get the crate door open without mishap.  We think this may be the mother who finally reunited with her little one.  We will keep an eye on everything to see if this is indeed what has happened.  I hope Momma Skunk will decide that this isn't a good place to be and we take up habitation further away.
All our excitement seems to take place just after supper.  Yesterday evening, we were watching the news when hubby announced that Charlie the rooster had got out and was accompanied by the tiny young one.  Rocky, who should be called Pebbles, is small enough to walk right under Charlie so they made an odd pair.  The fact that Charlie is white and Rocky a dark chocolate added to the picture.  We were able to herd them back to the coop and get them settled for the night along with the hens.  No escapes today thankfully. Never a day without excitement in the back woods.
Blessings,

Quilts

Another really hot day but morning and evening hasn't been too bad so got the heavier work done thing.  Hubby made a barrel planter for me so I thought that, although it is getting late in the season, I would plant some beets.  With the exception of a small area, all my vegetables have been planted in old tires or containers of some sort.  It is so much easier to weed and everything is growing better especially in the tires.  Nice that even with my increasingly creaky bones that I can still have a garden.
I also finally got a quilt onto  the frame.  It took a while, as it always does, but it is loaded and ready to go.  I have decided on the stitching pattern so tomorrow I should be able to get a start.
Here is a poor photo of the quilt.  This is my pattern and one I have done a few times before in other colourways.  The patterned fabrics are a reverse colour of each other.  Half are white and grey and the others grey and white.

This quilt is the same pattern but different colours.  Makes quite a difference, doesn't it.

Face masks.  I just finished making 20 more with Canadian flags for Canada Day.

Blessings,

New Member of the Flock

Thanks to a bit of covid relaxing in Ontario, we were able to meet with our neighbours for Bible Study last night.  It went a bit longer than usual as we were doing catch up but it was good to be back.  Sunday will be our first church service-social distanced, of course. 
Today hubby and I went to a farm to pick up a new rooster.  We have a banty but are not sure he is able to handle a bunch of full sized ladies.  This fellow isn't very big either but he is young yet so he should grow to a reasonable size.  The only problem is that the former owners aren't really sure he is a rooster.  We are thinking about getting another older one but aren't sure whether that will cause a lot of rivalry.
It has been quite warm today and will be worse tomorrow.  It makes me feel so tired but I was able to get some more masks made.  Tomorrow, my priority is sewing the backing together for a quilt.  Honestly if I don't use my machine soon it is going to leave home.
I hope this link works for you.  These are the cutest pets.

https://www.boredpanda.com/weird-sitting-poses-pets-photo/
Blessings,

A Skunk Parade

I have had a very busy couple of days.  Yesterday, hubby and I went to visit his mother with stops to drop off my Janome for servicing, pick up some Canadian fabric at a nearby store and grab a few groceries.  We had a lovely visit with family, was treated to supper (yay no cooking when we got home) before heading back home.  It was nearly 8 when we got back so it was nice to just collapse after we got the groceries put away.
Today was catch up on house work and sew.  I had an order from a lady in Toronto for 10 masks plus another 20  for the two stores I supply.  I already had the customer's finished and packaged to go so made the day a bit less hectic.
I did take time off for go for a walk.  The weather has been lovely-warm and sunny but not too hot so it is a pleasure to be out.  Tomorrow I hope to be able to do a bit of weeding after delivering the mask.   My veggies are coming up well so hoping for a good crop for the winter.
We saw the sweetest sight last night just before we got home.  Hubby was driving and he started slowing down while saying 'I think there are a pair of skunks on the road ahead"  As we got closer, we noticed that it wasn't two adults but a momma skunk and at least 5 little ones following in single file behind her.  The were right on the edge of the road , facing the correct way, and just minding their own business.  A lovely sight and hopefully they weren't making for our chicken coop.
Blessings,

This family isn't as orderly as the one we saw but still cute with their little tails in the air.

Web Site Woes

Normally, by this time of day, we would have had supper and be cleaning up and waiting for the news to start.  Today, however, the casserole is still staying warm in the toaster oven while my husband and a neighbour move our new storage shed into place.  I didn't realize it was so big.  It could, quite easily be a guest cabin.  Our neighbour, who made the shed, is shifting it inch by inch to the place where my hubby wants it.  I was watching them for a bit and found the whole process both fascinating and scaring.  I always admire how someone can use a piece of machinery to do such delicate work.  At the same time, I find it scary as I am sure everything is going to crash and crush someone to death.

I am not sure what we are going to use all that space for but part of it is to be my garden shed so I can have all my tools, lawn ornaments and furniture in one place.

I am still making masks and my latest order has come from Toronto.  Her order will be finished and sent off first thing next week.  I am hoping to then be able to work on the quilt that has been on the frame for ages.  I did finish up the web site I was working on.  A bit of tweaking to do but the majority is finished.  It is hard working on anything that involves the internet as the overload of usage makes everything unreliable.  If you would like to take a look at the site, it is bfacc.org.

I found out today how frustrating it is when a site doesn't work properly.  A new restaurant opened up in our community and I checked out their web site to see what they were serving and where they were.  The location map was dreadful.  It didn't even show the street the business was on and that is the main street of the village.  The contact button didn't work and a drop down message stayed down and covered some of the information.  I called the company and let them know about the problems and I hope they are going to be able to fix it.  Not a good start for them.

Hope you are all staying well,

Blessings,

The Great Bed Move.

Here I am again finally.  Every since last week, I have been involved in the great bed exchange.  I decided to take the double bed out of the guest room and replace it with a single which would leave room for a comfortable chair so it will be more of a bed sitting room.  The master bedroom had two singles put together to make a king.  I wanted to sell the one single, keep the other for the guest room and buy a queen.  I was able to do all this successfully but then found the Queen really wasn't big enough and it was too high for our little dog to safely jump on and off it.  So, I contacted a friend who had a king to give away.  That was picked up today and after dismantling and removing the Queen, we installed the new bed.  It is perfect.  Now we need to find a home for the Queen and we will be done.  My dear hubby has been very patient through it all but I don't think I better move anything else for a while.
I am still working on making masks for the community.  That project has turned into almost a full time job.  Today, before the great final bed move, I finished planting the garden.
After a few days of 33 degree temperatures, I has now dropped down to single digits.  Spring always seems to take a long time to get started.
I hope you are all staying busy and creative,
blessings,