Apple Day

 Today is apple day. I bought a bushel of apples from an orchard recently and, as I was up earlier than usual (more about that in a minute, decided that today was good day to get them done.  I cored and sectioned nearly all of them, filled medium sized freezer bags , put aside 4 that had the cores removed and turned the rest into applesauce.  Hubby will be able to have lots of apple crisp this winter and we will have baked apples for supper.  Tomorrow, I am planning on making my jam and then another season of preserving etc.  will be finished-except for the pumpkins.

We had to get up early this morning because a service person was coming to fix our well.  I think I mentioned that we were getting a lot of air in our water lines which caused the water to spurt and hiss accompanied by a symphony of bangs.  The company said they would send someone around Friday afternoon and then called to change it to the morning.  I didn't care when as we weren't going anywhere.  When she mentioned they would be here by 8, I wasn't concerned about that either as hubby is usually up early.  I'm not.  I like to sleep until at least 8.30.  However, this morning I work up around 7.45 and got up.  You can certainly get a lot of stuff done in a day when your day starts in the middle of the night😁

There was a time when 7.30 was the middle of the day.  When I drove transit bus, I was out of bed before 4.30 and at work an hour later.  Oh how I hated anyone who phoned after 9 p.m..  One person in particular never seemed to understand that I had to get up early.  Didn't understand until I called her at 4.30 to chat about nothing.  Problem solved.

We have a nice sunny day again but cooler and grayer days are coming.

blessings,

An Eventful Day

 Well, I had a busy morning today.  I don't always get up very early and this morning I was still in bed at 8.30 when our portable alarm went off.  I heard a vehicle but thought it was going along the road so assured Heidi we were all safe.  Then I heard a  door slam and got up in time to see a delivery truck going back down the driveway.  My new snowthrower had arrived.  Before we had time to start breakfast, the hydro went out and our neighbour called to see if we had been affected and said she would let us know when she had info.  I get notices on my cell phone letting me know when hydro is expected to be back on but as we get very poor reception, it isn't much good.  Shelley is kind enough to give us the updates.

Back to getting breakfast and the phone rings again.  It is my son who always calls on Tuesdays but usually later in the morning.  We chat for a bit doing catching up on anything that has happened since the previous call and then back to breakfast only to have company.  Husband's cousin was dropping off her sewing machine for me to fix.  We visited for a bit and then, finally, we had breakfast.

After that I started doing the seasonal clothes switch, hydro came back on for lunch so I was able to do the other things I had planned.  

We had a hawk get at the chickens and killed our rooster.  We were both upset and this was best one we have had.  He was really good at protecting the hens, wasn't aggressive but kept everyone in line.  It is very difficult trying to find a balance between letting the chickens have free range and protecting them for predators.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a normal day.  I still haven't opened the box containing the snow thrower.  That can wait until tomorrow.

Blessings

Quilt Group Day

 I really appreciate the comments I get on the blog.  It helps me feel even more connected to you and your encouragement means so much.

Today was our local quilt group meeting.  Another member that we haven't seen for a bit was out and contributed her dry sense of humour.  Another of the ladies had brought a number of quilts and tops that she had finished since covid and so we had a mini show and tell.  I loved hearing all the positive comments and encouragement.  This is what I have missed the most when we were not able to meet.  I can (and do) quilt at home but I don't hear the caring we have for each other or the respect and teasing unless I go to the meeting.  Being surrounded by my quilting friends is like cuddling under a favourite quilt on a cool evening.

Speaking of cool, our temperatures dropped quite a bit on the weekend and I wore a warmer coat when I was out.  I may even have to put on my socks soon.  I definitely need to haul out the winter clothing.  That is tomorrow's project.

Our hydro was out for a couple of hours after I got home so I finished a book I was reading and then fell asleep for  half an hour.  Most of southern Ontario is supposed to get severe weather tomorrow.  I don't have to go anywhere so will make sure my tablet is charged so I can play games or read in case the power goes again.  If it stays out very long, we can turn on the generator.

I hope you all had a great and safe day,

Blessings,

Gnomes are Ready for Winter

Thank you to all who took time to sympathize with my back pain. It is feeling quite a bit better today so I was able to do some stretching to move things along.  I appreciate all your comments regarding cataract surgery as well.  I confess I have been reluctant to get it done based on one friends reaction.  I am going in to the optometrists on Thurs to get my new lenses and I will ask what the wait time is for the procedure.  I should be okay with the new prescription for at least a year so if the wait time is longer than that, I could book it now.

We got a good bit of the outside work done today.  Gnomes are snug in their winter totes, the cover is off the gazebo and the hummingbird feeders are inside.  I have to fix a tear on the cover before storing it.  There is still a bit of yard work to do: raking leaves, covering the perennials and cutting back some plants.

I got some quilting done as well.  I guess I should say sewing rather than quilting as I was making face masks.  I didn't think people would still be wanting the hand made ones now there are so many commercially produced masks but there is still a demand.  I like using theme fabrics such as hedgehogs, dogs, cats, deer as well as brightly covered material. If we have to wear these things, we may as well have fun.

One last fall photo.  One of my favourites.

Blessings,

Charming

 Happy Monday.  I seem to have lost a week.  I hurt my back and have spent the better part of a week not doing much of anything except moaning.  It still isn't good but is a bit better.  I was able to go to quilting today and made sure I got up and walked around frequently.  The problem with a sore back is that both sitting and walking hurts but you need to move or it makes the situation worse.  Dear hubby has been great doing what he can to help.

I got my eyes checked on Friday and it took over an hour and a half as I hadn't been in nearly two years.  Apparently, I am borderline for driving although my new lenses will fix that.  I am also a candidate for cataract surgery but I am going to put that off as long as possible.

The weather has started cooling down a bit so I need to get the garden finished and ready for winter.  Time to get out the winter clothing as well.  I have been wearing a pair of fleecy pajama bottoms around the house.  They are so comfortable.

I bought a new quilt book with patterns for charm squares.  I have enough of those squares to make quilts for everyone in the village.  I would like to set myself a goal of doing one every other month but I have so many UFO's that I am going to have to leave it for a while.  Perhaps I will do a UFO and then a charm quilt.

Blessings,

Quilting Behind Bars

A friend sent me a report on a prison where the inmates are making quilts that are donated to children.  Not only were these men learning a skill while helping others but they were also helping themselves.  All of them reported feeling for the first time that what they did mattered.

Those of us who are quilters already know that feeling.  Donating our creations to help others is a big part of what we do.  When we aren't giving quilts, we share fabric, knowledge and friendship.  Quilters know that when you give; you receive.  What you receive might not buy groceries or cause others to see you as important but it does give you peace and, as the prisoners discovered, the knowledge that what you do matters.

I think that is particularly important right now when there seems to be so much division and hatred.  I am disappointed that in a time when we need each other for support and encouragement, we face animosity and judgement.  Perhaps the whole world needs to stop everything for one day and, instead of demanding rights that they haven't earned, they would look for ways to help. It might be even better if we all just turned off the computer and volunteered to read to children in the hospital, clean an elderly or disabled persons house, sit and really talk to a street person or anything else that would help them understand what is really important in this world.

Blessings

Driving Woes.

 Our leaves are starting to fall and the colours are fading.  Heidi and I walked through a deep carpet of crispy leaves today.  I had more fun than she did while kicking the leaves into the air.  She was more interested in sniffing at the same spots that draws her interest every time we go through the bush.

I had a bit of a mishap yesterday. I stopped at our church to do the Thanksgiving decorations and when I left I went through the parking lot to the side road as it is less busy.  There was a bit of a dip so I eased the car into in and-got stuck.  The dip was deep enough that my front bumper was touching the road surface.  Of course, my cell phone didn't get any service so I couldn't call hubby.  I was just going back into the church when a lady came to get her mail from the boxes located on the property.  Her phoned worked so I explained the situation to hubby and he said he was on his way.  The church is only a couple minutes from the house so I knew he wouldn't be long.  Another vehicle pulled into the parking lot while I waited and the driver asked if he could help.  He had a shovel and dug all around the front end. Unfortunately that didn't help.  Hubby arrived and tried towing me out.  That didn't work.  Another man in a heavy truck came and he had a good chain.  At this point, I was beginning to feel like I was in the middle of a country song.  He hitched  up the chain, I got in the car and bingo! I was out.  I thanked everyone profusely as did my husband and home we went.

Hubby went into the village later and said that side of the parking lot had been roped off.  I suspect it was the second man as he lived right near.

I appreciate very much both men who stopped to help and am thankful that people still care about others,

blessings, 

Autumn

 I enjoyed reading the comments from Judy and Karen about the talented artisans in their family.  You ladies are blessed.

I have spent most of today unquilting.  I finished a small Christmas wall hanging some time ago and now have decided I don't like the quilting.  It is nice and sunny outside so I took my work outdoors.  I have most of it unpicked and can finish it while watching television.

I took my camera when Heidi and I went for out walk.  These are all on our property.

Blessings

Inheritances

Another rainy day although the sun is shining at the moment.  I was expecting to finish up the top for the charity quilt that I have been working on but I am going to have to put it aside for a bit.  I got a notice that some of the items I have in a local store have sold so, now I need to make at least one more baby quilt and some face masks.  I am certainly not complaining.  It is wonderful to know that someone likes something I have made well enough to add it to their home.  Knowing that a child will be cuddling up with my creation for a long time is wonderful.  It may even be handed down to other children or the next generation.

I wish I owned a quilt that had been made by my mother or other relative but none of them (to my knowledge) quilted.  My relatives will not have the same complaint!

Have you inherited your love of quilting from a family member?  It is interesting how some skills do get passed down.  Photography is an inherited trait in my family that goes back at least as far as my father.  It is a passion of mine and I have a nephew who is an award winning professional. Judging from photos posted on social media, there are others who also have the bug.

In hubby's family, there are many artists and singers.  A friend's family are known for their musical ability and another for cooking.  It is nice to know that along with inheriting certain personality traits, appearances and builds that we might also become a famous singer like great aunt Clara.

blessings,