Another Toy Fixed

Sympathies to reader Judy who lost a friend to covid 19.  Far too many are not taking this pandemic seriously and they are the ones that are making it harder for the rest of us.  I get really annoyed when so many of us are following all the regulations and guidelines while a few selfish people are carrying on as though it was a joke.  

I had a nasty evening yesterday.  I had a really bad bout of vertigo which knocked me out until this morning and I am still feeling a bit nauseous but can, at least function.

My husband has an old tractor which hasn't been running for a while.  It was taken to his brother-in law's where he and his son got it running like a top.  Today it was delivered back here.  My hubby is thrilled to have his toy working again.  He needs it for all sorts of jobs around the property especially hauling wood and moving downed trees.

We also had an old quad which we sent back to be used on brother-in-laws farm.  I think his grandchildren may have put their claim for use in already.  Fun doing all this along with distancing but it can be done.

Blessings,

Stress

Last week was a nasty one.  We got  news on Tues. morning that one of the ladies in our quilt group had died.  It was such a shock.  Of course, with covid we hadn't seen her since the end of March so, although she had been in ill health, we assumed that she was progressing.  While processing that, we received news that my mother-in-law was having problems.  She has been suffering from Alzheimer's for a number of years and, although the disease was progress, it was doing so slowly.  This in great part is due to my sister-in-laws great care of her mother. Early Sunday morning, we got a call saying she had fallen.  Fortunately nothing was broken but she is now in hospital and we wait to see what the next step will be.
Mixed in with all that has been an ongoing crisis with the family of one of my sister's.  They have been trying for weeks to get help for my great niece without any results.  All this stress added to that created by the pandemic proved to be too much and I have taken this week off.
I was supposed to be chairing the Art Clubs meeting tomorrow but the Vice President has stepped in and is doing a wonderful job of preparation and I know the members will give her all the support she needs.  In the meantime, I am sorting fabric.  I had been given two large amounts and they were just dumped into bins.  I have started sorting, washing and folding them before putting them in totes.  My shelves are full despite making tons of masks.  Nothing like running your fingers through fabric to ease the tensions.
I have done one more pass on the quilt that is on my frame and really need to get at that as I would like to make some baby quilts from the panels that were in one of the donations.
Hope your week has been a good one.
Blessings,

Good From Bad

It has been rainy and cooler today again so it was nice working in my studio.  I am just finishing an order for face masks for a family with a number of children, two of which have autism.  I am going to use the duck bill pattern for them so they don't have the fabric too close to their faces.  One of the biggest difficulties in masking masks for children is doing something they will want to wear.  I try to use fun fabric in colours they like.  For the little wee ones I add ties so Mom can fasten them behind the child's head.  They are likely to stay on longer than the ear loops.

Mr. Groundhog made a return visit to the back yard yesterday and our little Heidi made it aware that it wasn't welcome.  We have had far more animals around the house this year than any other.  In addition to the groundhog and the skunk I mentioned a while back, a porcupine has also been seen on the driveway and more varieties of birds than ever before.  Perhaps it is due to less human activity which is a real positive.

Speaking of good results from difficult situations, our internet reception has suddenly improved.  We think that it is possible a tree was causing problems.  None of the ones that came down in the storm on our property could have been the cause so I feel  it might be the huge one on my sister's land.  We haven't taken a close look at it but noticed last night when driving past that one has come down, roots and all. It would have been somewhere in line with the satellite.

It seems that many of my friends are taking advantage of the home time and doing renovations.  We are also doing some minor upgrades.  Have you been painting walls, adding new flooring or any other changes to your home?

Blessings,

Helpful Neighbours

We had quite a weekend weather wise.  The thunder and lightening started late Saturday afternoon accompanied by slashing rain which was, literally, going sideways.  All around us the trees were swaying like crazy dancers.  The hydro went out about 5.30, thankfully, after we had eaten.  Poor hubby had to go out and make sure the chickens were secure and came in soaked to the skin.

The next morning the hydro was still off so we staggered around heating water on the propane stove.  Neither of us had slept well because of the noise and a nervous dog who barked at the thunder and creaking trees.  When hubby came back from doing morning chores, he said we had a big tree down that just missed the hen house and our trailer.  It landed on an old camper which we had been using for storage but recently cleaned out so we could junk it.  That will now be easier.

Two more large trees came down across the mouth of the driveway and had to be removed.  As he was doing that, neighbours from all around came to help.  

Our road and the one adjoining was a mess with trees down everywhere. Hydro didn't come back on until Saturday evening and all has ben fine since.  A shower helped restored the normalcy.

Blessings,

                                                              The End of the Line

                                                                   Downed Tree

  Neighbours Coming to the Rescue 

                                                           Lots of Firewood for the Winter

                                                                   Driveway is Cleared

A Gift of Fabric

Thank you to the first prize winner for responding with your information.  I am still waiting for your contact information Leanne.

I went to the hairdressers and got a perm today.  Right now I look like I have a short afro but my hair isn't on my neck or face so I am happy.

A friend phoned recently to ask if I would take her quilting supplies as she is no longer able to use it.  She made it sound as though I was doing HER a favour.  I pick it up tomorrow and I know that no matter how hot it is, I will start sorting through it, deciding what I want to keep and who can use the rest.  A gift of fabric is better than Christmas and birthday all rolled into one.

It seems that the need for masks isn't slowing down so I will be using what I can for those.  I may cut a bunch into charm squares or fat quarters and have another draw.  Stay tuned.

We are supposed to get rain for a few days so I hope it happens.  If it actually does, I think I may go outside and dance in it.

Blessings,  

Draw Prize Winners

Prize winners:  congratulations Judy you have won first prize in my contest.  If you will contact me and let me know whether you would like to have the 2.5 inch precuts or a face mask, I will get it sent to you.

Leanne, you are second prize winner.

I will need contact information from both of you ladies.

It continues to be very hot here so I am thankful for our gazebo and air conditioner.  When I am tempted to start feeling down, I try to look at what I have rather than what I don't.  Yes, it is very hot but I am not living on the streets or in a hot apartment surrounded by hundreds of other hot apartments.  There are so many advantages to living in the country.  There are disadvantages as well, of course.  For example, I haven't been able to get into our grocery store for two weeks because of the line ups of tourists.  On the other hand, I certainly don't blame them for wanting to be here.  I do wish they would wear a mask or practice social distancing but, for some reason, they seem to feel it isn't necessary here.

Tomorrow, hubby and I are driving to another community where he has a doctor's appointment.  I am hoping to be able to grab a few necessities while there.  I recognize I am shopping where I don't live but, in the case of our community, we always do that because we have very few stores and they are small.  I will also visit my brother and his wife who live there.  I haven't seen them in ages so it will be nice to catch up and as he also has a gazebo, we will be able to do so outside.

This pandemic has certainly made us more aware of how much we care about our family and friends.  

Blessings,

Canoe Capital of the World

I have learnt something new about Canada.  I didn't know that Peterborough. Ont. is the world's canoe capital. It has a museum that holds the world’s largest collection of canoes and kayaks, approximately 600 canoes and kayaks in its archives, and more than 100 of them on display at any one time. Also, the wooden plank canoe was invented and produced in the area
 Our country is vast in size, second largest (Russia is first and the USA third) country in the world but we have a small population in comparison to all the other countries.  Even those with vastly less acreage have many times more people.  When we were children, we used to say that you could drop England into one of the Great Lakes and have lots of room left over. However, London has more people than all of Canada.
Despite our small population, we have certainly made our mark on the world.  Take a few minutes sometime and do a search for all the inventions, such as the first artificial heart, that are Canadian made.
It continues to be really hot today and I am staying inside as much as possible.  We have a little toaster over that we use for most of our meals.  It works great and doesn't heat up the house.

Our Canada Day decorations.

Don't forget to enter my contest.  It closes tomorrow.  Details are the the previous blog,
Blessings,