A Special Day

 Happy anniversary to us.  Twenty-nine years and counting.  We have been laughing because we thought yesterday was our anniversary.  We never can remember if it was the 30 or 31st and then hubby bought me a card that had a calendar for 1991  Apparently, we celebrated a day early because  the 31st was the big day.

Yesterday, we went for a drive through a provincial park near us. (to celebrate).  I have been wanting to explore Arrowhead Park ever since we moved here but we never seemed to get around to it.  It isn't huge in comparison to Algonquin but it has its own beauty with lots of camping areas, walking trails and water.  In the winter you can snowshoe or ski. We found it very peaceful and, as there was an area for dogs, we were able to walk along one of the beaches.

Today, I got my new machine stitching properly (had to turn the bobbin around) and am looking forward to sewing with her.  I do want to replace the bobbin holder and get some more bobbins but no rush on that.

We had a bit of excitement after supper when hubby went to put the chickens in for the night.  A young bear was hanging around the coop.  He chased it away and, hopefully, it will wander somewhere else

Blessings,

Pillow Covers.

 I didn't get done what I had hoped today as I didn't pry myself out of bed early enough but I did make a number of pillow covers.  I recovered a couple for the couch in rooster fabric.  Because we raise chickens, everyone gives us related items including fabric.  I hadn't thought of using the later for pillows until I found a small rooster panel.  They look quite cheery against brown couch.  

The others I have done for the bed sit.  They are a bit more decorative and feminine.  I am going to be making one of old lace doilies and handkerchiefs.  Another of those items that I have saved without having a purpose for them.

I gave my new machine a good cleaning and oiling today and then realized I didn't know how to thread it.  There appeared to be only one way but it isn't the way I did it.  Guess I am going to have to ask someone. The needle comes unthreaded when I try to sew with it right now despite having a good long tail.  It sounds a lot better now so am anxious to use it.  Maybe tomorrow.

Blessings,

To Rain or Not

 The weather hasn't been able to decide what it wanted to do the past two days.  For a while, the sun would shine and looked as though it was going to be a lovely day.  Then the sky turned black and we were sure we were going to get a nasty storm only to have it change again.

I did my laundry yesterday and was going to hang it out but changed my mind when the dark clouds rolled in. I left the sheets and some other clothes until today to wash and went through the same indecision.  I finally hung out some things and ignored the light and dark cycle until it stayed cloudy for a longer period.  Out I went and got everything in.  Of course, the sun came out again and laughed as I put the clothes in the dryer to finish.

In between that I made lasagna for supper and wrote my article for The Quilt Pattern Magazine.  I had taken a couple of months off so it was nice to get back to the story line again.  I have been writing for this magazine for a number of years now and am pleased that they still want me to keep submitting.  This is an on line magazine if you would like to check it out.  They have great patterns as well as articles.  

Tomorrow, I will be getting together with a couple of quilting ladies to sort through some fabric and decide what can be put into kits for charity quilts.  If this isn't done frequently, everything piles up.

I think it is definitely supposed to rain tomorrow.

Blessings,

Times have Changed.

 Still learning about my Sarah.  I haven't got any further on finding when she was made or her model number but I did discover a neat little door that opens to access the mechanics for oiling.  I made couple of masks today for hubby, finished a chapter of my book and did laundry today.  It has been quite humid so not one that makes you feel energetic.

I saw the following on line and thought you might like it.  I remember when I was in my early teens when the price of bread went from 18 cents to 21.  There was almost rioting in the streets.  If I remember correctly, wages were less than a dollar an hour them.  That meant you could probably buy 4 loaves for an hours work.  Minimum wage in Ontario is now, if I remember correctly, 14.00 and bread  $4.00 or more which means you can get 3 loaves for an hour work. (Not taking into consideration that you don't get to take home all of the 14.00 dollars.) My first husband was a letter carrier.  He made 5,000.00 a year.  That was in the the mid 60's.

 The Year is 1920! One hundred years ago !!!

 Very interesting for all ages. This will boggle your mind!

What a difference a century makes!

Here are some statistics for the Year 1920:

The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.

Fuel for cars was sold in drug stores only.

Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.

Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.

The average US wage in 1919 was 22 cents per hour.

The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2,000 per year.

A dentist earned $2,500 per year.

A veterinarian between $1,500 and 4,000 per year.

And, a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95 percent of all births took place at home

Ninety percent of all Doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!

Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as "substandard."

Sugar cost four cents a pound.

Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, And, used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

 

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.

The Five leading causes of death were:

1. Pneumonia and influenza

2. Tuberculosis

3. Diarrhea

4 Heart disease

5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars ...

The population of Las Vegas , Nevada was only 30.

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet.

There was neither a Mother's Day nor a Father's Day.

Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write (most politicians and media today).

And, only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at local corner drugstores.

Back then pharmacists said, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach, bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health!" (Shocking?)

Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help...

There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A.

I am now going to forward this to someone else without typing it myself.

From there, it will be sent to others all over the WORLD all in a matter of seconds!

It is impossible to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.

Horrific Plane Crash Analogy

 I have had a busy and productive day working on reorganizing both the guest bedroom and the master after having changed the flooring in the later.  The guest room has been used as a gathering place for anything that didn't immediately have a proper place to be.  Today, I rectified most of that although there are still some drawers to sort through.  

I am turning the room into a bed/sit so I can go there to read when hubby is watching a movie.  As well as sorting the drawers, there are some additions like a reading lamp, decent radio and a quilt to be added.  The quilt is on the frame at the moment but it is gradually getting done.  I am also going to cover some good sized pillows to use as a backrest.

In the master, the main things left to do is to sort through all the odds and ends like old razers, lipsticks, never worn jewelry and all the little bits of flotsam we have gathering dust.  Tomorrow we are going to Huntsville to pick up Sarah the vintage Singer sewing machine (yes, I name my machines.  Don't you?) and will drop a box of unneeded clothing and other items at the Salvation Army thrift store.

I read this on line today and found it startling.  We often have a problem visualizing large numbers unless they are presented in a way with which we can identify.  This is to do with deaths due to covid. Losing 137,000 people in 4 months would be equivalent to 50 planes a weeks crashing over a period of 4 months killing everyone on board.  171 people per plane 50 times a week crashing.  Can you imagine the outcry if that happened.

Blessings,

A New Toy?

 We had a real treat this morning.  Hubby motioned me over to the kitchen window and pointed outside where a large hawk was sitting on the grass.  He appeared to be watching for a mouse.  I have never thought of them as ground hunters before but that is what this one was doing.  I had just enough time to take an out of focus photo of him with my phone.  I haven't downloaded it yet but when I do, I will share.

I have started cutting some fabric for a small quilt using a pattern that I am making up as I go.  It starts with 3.5 x 6.5 inch rectangles which are sewn together to make a square.  I will share the steps as I go along but need to get each one perfected first.

It hasn't been a pleasant day with a cold rain falling throughout.  We should still be getting some warm weather but the days are definitely getting shorter.  I usually look forward to the end of summer but it has been such a nice one this year (other that some days that were way too hot) that I am loathe to see it go.

On Saturday, I may be purchasing something I have been considering for a long time.  I have a couple of friends who are really into vintage machines and I have been thinking about getting a hand crank.  I have a lead on one in Huntsville that is a good price and in working condition.  We will take a look at it but I am pretty sure I will be bringing it home.  Here is a photo.

Blessings, 

A Winter Reminder

 I have not been quilting for nearly five months.  I can't ever remember that much time passing  before as I have been making, thinking about or shopping for quilts from the moment I took up the craft.  The only quilt related activity I have done is to purchase some fabric, do one row with the long arm and start a hand quilted wall hanging.  Now that I am back onto the right path I am trying to decide on a pattern.  I want to make a cover for a small coffee table (20 X 30 inch top) using a design that is either something different or that presents a bit of a challenge.

I haven't decided yet but I am looking at a Pepper Cory book for inspiration.  I like her patterns but not the fabric she uses to make them.  I can never figure out why someone who has a choice of any fabric would choose the ones she does.  However, she must like them and we all have different likes and dislikes.

It has been quite a bit cooler today.  My car registered 15o C when I was coming back from the village just after lunch.  It was a good reminder that summer will end eventually and we need to get things ready for winter.  That means hubby has to make sure we have enough wood, the chimney is clean and the tractor is winterized as well as his other bits and pieces.  My job is doing preserves.  A friend gave me a jar of zucchini relish today so I have found a use for that crop.  Usually I freeze it for baking but the relish is quite good so will do that first.  I am sure that if I don't have enough zucchini to freeze that someone will share.

Do you have a new recipe you are going to try this year?

Blessings,

The Trouble With Masks

 Last week I got a call from a friend I haven't seen in a while.  She was in the area and thought it would be great if we could all get (socially distanced) together.  I first met Evelyn when we were preparing to move to Ontario from Alberta.  I asked the members of an online quilt group I belonged to if there was any members from Ontario and Evelyn replied.  We met she and her husband at a family member's Bed and Breakfast and have been good friends ever since.

We agreed to meet at one of the Tim Horton restaurants and gave them directions.  As they got closer, Evelyn texted and I told her where we were parked and what we were driving.  Shortly after that, a car pulled in beside our vehicle and a masked couple got out.  I greeted them and followed them inside and showed them the table that I thought would allow us to visit while being far enough apart.  They hadn't said anything up to them which I thought was rather odd but figured they wanted to get their drinks first.  I said something more to the woman and she said "I don't think you know us because we don't know you"  How embarrassing. I thought my friends had changed somewhat but it had been a couple of years and they were wearing masks.  I slunk back outside and shortly afterwards our friends did arrive. 

I think it might be a good idea if we all wore name tags.  I wonder if I am the only person who has made this silly mistake.

Blessings,

A New Floor

 I am back.  I didn't go anywhere physically but have been even more busy than usual.  This Saturday past was the Burk's Falls Art and Crafts Club show and sale and I was making  my products for that.  We were blessed with great weather and had a good turnout of customers.  I not only sold what I had brought but some of what my hubby added.  The  club made enough money to help with expenses so it was a good day for us all.

On Monday, two of our friends came over to replace our old  bedroom carpet with laminate flooring.  It took a couple of days (not counting what hubby and I did) because it had to be worked around their schedule but it was finished by Tuesday afternoon.  It looks a lot better than I first thought.  I still have furniture to move back but that shouldn't take long.

This photo is a bit fuzzy but you can see how nicely the floor goes with my furniture.

Today was special.  For the first time since March, the majority of the members of the Burk's Falls Village Quilter's gathered together.  We all felt a great need to see each other following the death of one of our dear members and so we met in  a socially isolated circle at the park.  It was lovely catching up with everyone's news and sharing some memories of our friend.  We also discussed the topic on everyone's mind: when will be able to get together for quilting.  We set a target date of October in hopes that we will have a better idea of how safe it will be.

All in all it has been a busy but wonderful few days.  Next time, I will tell you about one of the problems with wearing a face mask.

Blessings,

Art Sale Preparations.

Reader Judy shared that she too had just had her first restaurant meal since March.  Would anyone have thought last year at this time that such a simple act would feel so significant.  Today, I  delivered some eggs to a friend and stayed for a short visit.  It felt like getting away on vacation.  I don't think any of us will ever again take these small pleasures for granted.

Another of my friends passed away yesterday.  She was older and had been ill for some time so it wasn't unexpected but still difficult.  With Mom-in-law in poor health, the death of my two friends is an unwelcome reminder that none of us are getting any younger.

I am still working on getting items ready for the Art/Craft sale on Saturday.  I am going to include some cases to hold masks.  I have a tendency to drop mine into my handbag and that isn't very sanitary.  I imagine some other women do the same.  Looks like the weather is going to be fine so far.  I think this is the first event for the public in the village so hope we get a good turnout.  And that reminds me, I have to buy change.

Blessings,

First Time Since March

Hubby and I did something today for the first time since March.  We went to our nearby town to do our big grocery shopping as we were running out of a number of things.  I debated leaving it until tomorrow as I figured it would be busy with it being just after a long weekend.  However, I figured that the next day would probably be just as bad with those who had waited the extra day all coming out.

It really was busy but I was able to get into the grocery store without waiting and, because the number of shoppers was limited the store wasn't overly crowed.  My timing was good because a line started forming right after I went in.

It was lunch time when I finished so we decided to go to our favourite restaurant as they were serving patio style.  It was a bit odd as it was necessary to figure out the procedures and the whole mask thing. There was a number of empty tables and, while it did take quite a bit of time for our food to arrive, it was good and we felt relaxed.  The later was the important to me as I get stressed if too many people are getting creative about following guidelines.

Now that we have passed that hurdle we can go back to having our lunch at a restaurant once in a while.  

Happy Day.

Blessings,

Art and Crafts Sale in Burk's Falls

I will be here with my masks, some quilted items and hand crafted earrings.  Come and check us out.  Not to early to start Christmas shopping

Blessings,