Shopping. Ugh!

We went to North Bay today and got the new foot for my sewing machine.  It isn't the same as the one that broke but will work.  The store owner  thinks he can repair the old one but, if not, I am going to get a replacement.  The original is much sturdier and I have a thing that fits on it so I can do ruler work so I do need that style.  In the meantime, however, I can get back to sewing.
I intended to do some other shopping but I ran out of energy after having lunch.  I really don't like shopping.  I always go with the greatest intentions but, half way through, I've had enough and want to get home. If my husband hadn't been with me, I probably would have skipped lunch and just came home even if it is an hour drive.
 I've always been this way which wasn't a problem when we lived in the city.  What I didn't get one day, could always be got the next.  Here, it isn't that easy.  I don't mind shopping in the village but, even there, I couldn't do it for more than a half hour.
My husband said that I should just buy on line and he is right.
I was supposed to go to see my surgeon today but she still doesn't have my operation results from the pathologist.  I now have an appointment in May. 

Where's Mom?

I was outside taking some photos yesterday and got this one of Heidi looking out the screen door watching me.
Hope you all have a great weekend.  It appears as though we are going to have nice weather so will probably get some more gardening done.
Blessings,

Quilt Finished

Lion's in the Square





Detail of Quilt
I finished doing the binding on this quilt last night.  You can't see the photo clearly because the sun is too bright but the detail photo shows the colour more accurately.  I will have to take another photo later in the day when the sun is at a different angle.
I have had good news about the foot for my machine.  I can get it in North Bay which is less than an hour's drive.  The other store was closer to three hours and would have involved a sitter for the dog.  This is one of the issues that have to be considered when you live in a rural area.  Not complaint.  Just a fact.
I am working on a quilt top which is another version of my My Way pattern.  I did start it at quilt group but found that I was making too many mistakes so I guess I will keep it for an 'at home' project where I will stay focused on what I am doing.  I don't know what it is like at your group but I think we visit as much as we quilt-maybe more. Now for my first cup of tea of the day and on to the sewing.

Blessings,

Disaster

I have been making good progress getting my quilt top stitched and thought I would have it done for this weekend.  However, it now may take another week.  Last night the base of the hopper (free motion) foot snapped right off.  It looks as though it had been held in place by a spot weld so that must have weakened from use.
It is an odd thing to have happened especially from this machine which is classed as an industrial.  Juki's are really hard working, tough machines so this may be a flaw with this particular foot.
It shouldn't be hard to replace it but am going to have to wait for it.  A repair shop in North Bay may have one and I can drive up to get it.  Otherwise, I am going to have to wait until one is sent from Montreal.  In the meantime, I will work on another top that I have started.
My husband bought a new chainsaw yesterday and he is out happily cutting up wood.    The man should be wore down to a frazzle as he is always working on something!  I will have to take a photo of the lady gnome he made to show you.
Blessings,

How Many Grams?!!!

Yesterday, during lunch at quilt group, one lady gave us some facts about sugar consumption.  She was saying that our daily intake shouldn't exceed 4 teaspoons which seemed like a pretty easy restriction.  She then added that you could figure out how many teaspoons you were consuming by taking the number of grams and dividing by 4.  Therefore 32 grams would be 8 teaspoons. 
This morning I started reading packages.  One-tenth of a lemon pie is 32 grams-1/10th!  Yuck.
I was going to have some of that pie for supper but now I think I may leave the crust and meringue and just have a bit of the lemon filling.
I thought I might have remembered the information incorrectly so I did a basic conversion using a table from a cook book and one of my measuring cups.  There are 30 grams in an ounce. 1 oz = 2 tbsp or 8 tsps.  This is just a rough conversion and those of you who are mathematical may be able to do a better job.
I don't think I am going to be able to keep to just four teaspoons of sugar daily but if I can cut back to that amount of added sweetness it will be a good start.
I have probably ruined your meals for the day or sent you screaming for a deep friend chocolate bar.  I am going to try not to restrict myself to chewing on celery sticks and be sensible.  I am going to try and get more exercise by doing more quilting today.  We are getting a bit of drizzle so I won't have any choice but to stay tied to my machine! Have a good day and get away from that chocolate sundae.
Blessings,

Home Sweet Home

An on line friend and I were sharing how we hate to be away from our homes.  We are both going on the same quilt retreat and, while really looking forward to it, hate the thought of being out of our own bed.  She will be further from home than I as she lives in another province.
When my husband and I were first married, I used to look forward to his hunting trips when he would be away for a few days or even a week.  Now, while I like his day trips, I hate it when he is gone overnight.  Even though I enjoy getting to my quilt room for 'me' time, the house seems very empty when my husband is away.
I am not sure if that is an age thing or I am maturing-finally.

Doggie in the Window

I have been having a busy week.  Last night I was at my third meeting and am out again tonight.  I am trying to get a quilt quilted but it doesn't look like it is going to happen this week. It is now almost 2.30 and I will have bread ready for the oven soon and the dog expects her walk at 3-and yes, she can tell time. She loves being outside and one of her favourite places to sit is on my sewing table where she can see what my husband is doing. However, she only wants to sit there  when I am sewing.  As soon as she hears me sit in the chair, in she trots.  If I am in the computer chair, she doesn't bother.  I am always a bit worried about sewing her tail into the fabric but, so far, it hasn't happened.
Tomorrow is Good Friday.  I hope you all have a wonderful long weekend and a blessed Easter celebration.  He is risen.
Blessings,

My Favourite Quilt Book

Do you have a favourite quilt book; one to which you return time after time despite a shelf full of other publications?  I have a few favourites but the one which is my ultimate reference is the first quilt book I ever bought.  It is called Successful Quilting by Linda Seward.  It contains information on how to do every type of quiltingas well as photos of hundreds of blocks and instruction on making many of them.  If I have forgotton how to fold the fabric for a Cathedral Window block, this is the book I grab.  If I am looking for a block and not sure even what it is, I take Successful Quilting to bed with me and start flipping pages.
There is a lot of practical, well researched and written information in this book and is one I would recommend to any quilter but especially to those just starting.
I have mentioned the Quilt Pattern Magazine in previous posts.  It is my favourite on line publication.  It is easy to read and has usuable patterns as well as fun articles.  If you would like a sample copy of this publication,go to: http://www.quiltpatternmagazine.com.  You might also be interested in reading the editors blog: http://tinyurl.com/7lbtdaf
I have just finished making five dozen chocolate chip cookies for a meeting I have this evening.  And I see my husband, who has just come home from getting his hair cut, is carrying a bouquet of flowers.  An early birthday or Easter gift!
It is an odd day here.  The sun is shining, the temperature is 7 above and we keep getting snow showers!
Blessings,

Poor Me!

I just couldn't seem to get going this morning.  At ten o'clock, I will still sitting in front of the television in my night wear.  I had developed a bad case of the 'poor me's" and was wallowing in my mud puddle.  I finally dragged myself over to the computer and checked my e mail and opened a video sent by a friend.  What a reminder of how blessed I was.  The video featured a man who had been born without limbs and showed his influence on others. One line especially impressed me.  He said that you are not defeated until you quit trying to get up.
It was the reminder I needed.  I'm up, dressed, taken my patient and loving husband a cup of tea and done a bit of housework.  I then intended to write this and get at my quilting but the next e mail I opened was this months issue of the Quilt Pattern Magazine.  I had to check out the articles, look at the patterns and see what new product or procedure was being featured.  I have been following the series on big block quilts so will be going back to read that more thoroughly as well as the story about quilting in Wales.  Of course, I also took a quick peek at my own article just for the thrill of seeing my words in print.
It feels quite cool this morning so I have lit the wood stove.  We did have the furnace on but the heat from it never seems to be sufficient.  I guess because it isn't a constant.
I am just about ready to put a new quilt onto my frame so I am off to do that.
Hope you all have a wonderful day and have no mud puddles in your vicinity,
Blessings,