Blessing Others

 I have just got back from taking Heidi-and myself on a rare morning walk.  The temperature is just above freezing but the sun is shining. The air is crisp but not cold.  The trees are taking on their autumn colours.  Just a beautiful day.  After I finish this, I am sewing as I was up early enough to get all the housework out of the way.  

While I am enjoying all that I have, I am also mindful of those who have lost everything in Canada's Maritimes and the eastern States.  I can't imagine what it must be like to be living your life one day and to have everything wiped out on the next.  Even those who didn't suffer any damage are impacted by power outages, blocked roads and no way to contact loved ones to see if they are alright.

We get nasty snowstorms which cause a lot of problems but not to the extent of a hurricane or tornado.  Personally, I prefer snow to other natural disasters.

I know, quilters being who they are, that already there are groups putting together blankets of love to comfort those who are suffering.  On behalf of all quilters, thank you for your generosity.  If anyone knows of a group or individual who is doing this, I would be glad to share that information with others.  It is too expensive for me to send goods, but I can contribute money to buy supplies.  Perhaps there are others who can do the same.

Bless you all,

Hedgehog Baseball

 I think our area has got stuck under some sort of heavenly water tap.  It has been raining on and off for days.  However, it is hard to complain about something as minor as rain when there are people in the Maritimes and some of the nearby Island s that have lost everything because of hurricane Fiona. I do think some of the names they give to these storms make it hard to believe they are serious.  I would seriously ignore all warnings about Hurricane Tiffany or Ralph.  They just don't sound threatening.

Hubby and I have been stuck to the television watching our Blue Jays play.  It takes up a lot of time that could be spent on other things, but we do love our Jays.  I hardly dare hope that they will take the Championship this year but it might as well be them as someone else.

I am still working on making more of the little shoulder bags.  I am doing one for myself with hedgehog fabric.  I love hedgehogs.  If they could play baseball, they would be the perfect animal!

Blessings,

Spa Day for Heidi

 Yesterday was spa day for Heidi.  A friend and I booked with a lady to come to the friend's house and do our dogs.  We hadn't used her before, but she had a lot of experience and we liked that she did house calls.  Heidi had a lot of matting on her legs and tummy as she hates being combed.  Actually, she is getting rather grumpy about everything these days except walks, car rides and treats.  I wasn't sure how she was going to behave and warned the groomer she might need to use a muzzle.

The other dog, Tucker, is a labradooble and is a big ,goofy, friendly dog that things everyone wants to play.  As Heidi was a small and elderly westiepoo, we had quite a contrast in customers for the groomer., Heather.

She was marvelous.  Heidi grumbled but Heather was patient with her and took the time to be gentle as possible.  It was nearly two and a half hours before she finished but our little one looked wonderful

Both my friend and I were very happy and will use this lady again.

I did get one nasty scare.  Heidi needed to go out, so I took her to the back yard.  I hadn't put on her leash as her collar had been removed and I knew she wouldn't run away.  She did her business and started wandering a bit.  I didn't notice the large circular hole right where she was until it was almost too late.  Heidi, with her reduced vision walked right into it and I grabbed her just in time. I need to be more alert.  She gets around our yard and home really well so I forget sometimes that she can't see properly.

Here is our little girl and her new look.

Blessings,

Quiting Fun.

Ever since Saturday, hubby has been looking out the window and remarking at all the lovely wood we have stacked up in the yard. And it is all because of some wonderful friends. He hadn't been able to get out and do the wood himself this year because a problem with his knee. He isn't supposed to put any weight on it and to rest it as much as possible so when our neighbours and church family offered to help, he was elated. The weather was perfect and within 3 hours everything had been split and piled. I served pizza, homemade cookies and pop while the workers rested. It wasn't just men who were working. Three women also were out there piling wood. Today, being Monday, was quilting. It was good to see everyone again. I missed two weeks because our venue was closed and then only went for lunch last week after my dear friend and mother-in-law died. While I was there, one of the ladies showed us a small bag she had made and we all requested a lesson this week. I decided to make mine from some seasonal pumpkin fabric and plain green. We all had a lot of fun and produced some lovely small shoulder bags. Our teacher was very patient which was good because my brain was still sleeping in bed. I am planning on making more of them as gifts. No one has more fun than a group of quilters. Here is a couple of photos of my bag as well as one of our wonderful workers. There was more of them in the bush.

 Blessings,

A Day of Quilting

I can't renenber when I last sat down and sewed for more than a few moments-other than when at quilt group of course. Yesterday, I realized there wasn't anything pressing I had to do so decided I was going to quilt. I had to remove the one that was on my frame as the backing got skewed so I will need to pick out a lot of stitches. I have been working on a charity quilt that is similiar to another except this one is on point. I almost have all the blocks done and then will add the sashing before I figure out the layout. Speaking of our quilt group, some of us are going to be working on small handbags on Monday. I think I will also grab some fabric and make a different one for myself. I have been collecting bag patterns for ages and never made a one. Time to change that. Our temperatures are getting cooler so I will soon have to bring in the geraniums. I have moved them all to the deck for now. Tomatoes will need to be done as well. Everything else can wait for a bit. Blessings

Death of a Matriarch

We have had a difficult few days. The passing of our Queen was very difficult as we ended and era that has been part of our lives for so many years. I was alive when the Queen's father was on the throne, although I don't remember him. In the early hours of Setember 11, my hubbies family had a personal 'end of an era' when my dear mother-in law passed away. As with the Queen, it was unexpected as she had been ill for some time but it was still a shock. I had known Joan for over fifty years, first as my neighbour and dear friend and then as my mother-in law. I have known her longer than I have known my husband. We shared many of the same characteristics. We were/are both fiesty and hate unfairness. Mom loved red as do I. She was also a wonderful seamstress and quilter. As sad as it is to know we won't see her again on this earth, we do have the faith that the day will come when we will all, once again, be together.

End of an Era

 I didn't do as well at the fair as usual but my friend got all first prizes.  I am so proud of her.  The entries, vendors and crowd were down this year but as it was the first fair after COVID, it wasn't unexpected.

Today my quilting friends and I were invited to one of our group's home for a visit.  It was a lovely day.  She lives on the lake so we took our hand projects to the lakeside deck and relaxed.  This lady is a wonderful hostess and served some finger foods to go with the lunches we brought.  Everything was topped with a couple bottles of non alcohol wine  which we drank in real glasses.  We even had gifts to take home.

When I left in the morning there had been an announcement of the Queen's health and it was worded in such a way that I realized her death was imminent.  It happened while I was out and each of us spent a bit of time reflecting on her reign and what the future might bring.  I feel very unsettled right now but am going to try not to think about the future with Charles as King.  Everything is just speculation at this point and, I believe  the Queen had faith in her son's ability to rule so we will need to give him a chance.

 This is one of my friends prize winning quilts.

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Blessings,

Fall Canning Underway.

And, all of a sudden, I am in canning mood.  I was going to wait until August was over but decided I had better get the crabapples done, then came the over abundance of tomatoes to be froze.  I am going to turn those into catsup this year. The crabapple jelly didn't set as well as I would have liked but it will do.

 

I have all my fall fair entries ready.  Usually, I am scurrying at the last minute.  I will make the brownies and pick carrots tomorrow but everything else has the labels attached and ready to go.

The temperature has dropped to below 20c this week although there was some humidity earlier because of the heavy rainfall The change in temperature have caused to  leaves to take on a tinge of colour  and I expect they will begin changing quickly now.  They seem slower this year as we often have a fair bit of orange along our driveway by now.

Blessings,