Pretty Sparkly things

It is amazing how much of our day is taken up in activities related to eating.  Today, I spent five hours driving to, from and purchasing groceries and another half an hour getting everything put away.  It was then time to get supper, eat, make breakfast cereal and clean up.  It is almost 8.00 p.m. and I left home this morning just before 10 a.m. to shop.  That is 10 hours spent on things that revolve around sustenance.  And I'm not counting breakfast.
Tomorrow, I have to do some baking before taking the dog to the vet.  Hubby cooks on Thurs. so I will have some free time after I get home.
Friday, I hope to be able to spend some time quilting before I end up with a bunch of PGF's (projects growing fungus).  I should have a bit of time now to sew together some strips for sashing which will save me from having a completely non quilting day.  I need to put together another hand applique block to work on while watching television.  I have been doing a bit of knitting lately but that is only so I have something to keep my hands busy.
I did buy something today that is now making me smile.  I love sparkly things.  They don't have to be expensive just shiny.  When I was in one store, I saw some stick on imitation gems which I bought.  I have some clear and red ones stuck around my computer monitor and they are sparkling in the lamp light.  I also stuck one on my cell phone.  They probably won't stay in place long but are fun while they are there.
Blessings,

Another Heidi Quilt

Have you ever started one thing and ended doing something completely different?  I did a bit of baking today and as I was clearing up, I got an idea about how I could make more room for my spices.  I have them in three places and some tend to hide behind others.  The racks that are on the pantry door are a good place but the smaller containers would either tip over or fall through.  I figured that if I cut some foam board to size, it would give those spices a better home.  I had some of the board left over from another project so I cut it and it worked great.  Then I started going through the spices, cleaning and filling containers, organizing them in the new area. 
After I finished, I found I had two large containers and one bag of nutmeg.  For some reason, whenever I needed it for a recipe, I couldn't find it.  I also had some very old chili flakes, dried bottles of food colouring and a bottle of peppercorns with a broken top.  It fell onto the floor when I moved it so I had to sweep them all up.
Everything looks nice and tidy and I have noted the spices that I need.  Nutmeg is not on the list!

Didn't get any quilting done today other than cut some border strips.  This photo is the quilt I finished last week.  It is going to be draped over the old trunk that is placed so our little Heidi dog can see out the window.  She seems to have more quilts than anyone else in the house.

Have You Hugged Your Quilt today?

I got the items made to be taken tomorrow to the store  that sells them.  It was a bit of a marathon and my neck is quite sore but, they are done.  Now I can back at the quilt I am doing for my husband.  It is nice to be making one for someone.  So often, I find I am making quilts without any purpose other than to make one.  I enjoy the process, of course.  It is fun to see how the colours will work in the pattern, what it looks like when it all comes together but if it then spends its life stored in a cupboard, it does seem a bit pointless. 
It might be okay to climb a mountain because it is there but I like to know that my quilts are going to have a home.  I have recently given away a couple and, although the recipient was grateful, in reality, they were doing me a favour by giving my creation a purpose.
May all your quilts be loved.
Blessings,

Changed of Plans.

It must be the effect of the new year but I have been making good progress in getting some of my old projects finished up.  I am just finishing the binding on one quilt and have hauled out another that I started ages ago.  This last one is for my husband and should go together very quickly as it is a large panel of a moose surrounded by smaller ones of elk, deer and moose.  I thought I would be able to get at it today but the phone rang and changed my priorities. The store where I sell a few items called to say they were running out and needed a new supply.
I am not complaining, of course.  It is nice to have a few more dollars and it won't take me long to get some more things made.  The other nice part of selling these items is that they are made with left over fabric.  I love being able to find uses for my scraps. They most frequently find their way into quilts but the larger bits are put aside for other uses. 
We didn't get any sunshine today but it is only minus 4 so nice for a walk.  I took Heidi for a longer than usual stroll and checked out the tracks of the various little animals that frequent our area.
I am thinking of getting back to my Fiction Friday's next month.  I will let you know.
Blessings,

Control Issues

I got the fabric chosen for a block of the month challenge I am doing that is sponsored by The Quilt Pattern Magazine.  I have been dithering about this for a while and finally figured out why.  As I don't know what each of the blocks will look like, I have to trust someone else's design sense.  Even though I know the designer and have bought her patterns, still I dither.  I think I may have control issues!
I almost have this first block done so, hopefully, I am learning to give a bit of control to someone else.
Hubby needed my help getting his truck from the driveway where it has been sitting for a while.  Snow had piled up around it so he decided the best plan was to use the tractor to pull it free.  I removed a lot of the snow while he was hitching up, unhitiching and removing the tractor blade and rehitching.  There is a lot of ice under the snow so it took a bit to get the tractor some traction.  Once everything was ready, I started the truck and drove it out.  I guess we should have checked to see if that worked first.  We did need the tractor for one area so I guess it was good that the truck was chained to it.
Blessings

An Excited Mouse.

I just loaded this quilt onto the frame and wanted to share something that I do.  When quilting, I often have problems on the edges as they don't stay flat.  I have found that if I sew a strip of fabric to either end I can either pin it secure or use the side clamps.  I prefer the latter.  Everything stays taught and I can run the pattern off the edge-onto the extra fabric, if I want.
I also add a strip to the top edge which allows me to tuck some under the take up bar keeping it secure and straight for the first row.  My quilts turn out nice and square using this method.  The extra strip is easy to remove after quilting as I use a long stitch to sew it on.  If I have sewn over the edge, I remove the extra stitches.
I should also mention that I don't have a stitch regulator and just a 9 inch harp on my set up so it makes it difficult to just do a basting stitch to hold everything in place.
 I have heard a couple of news reports lately about how bad sitting for long periods of time is for your health.  Of course, we already knew this but I didn't realize just how bad it is.  Even exercising daily does not negate the effects of constantly sitting.  The recommendation is that you stand for at least two minutes every half hour.  I have put a timer by the computer-where I am most likely to spend the most time keeping a chair warm.  When it lets me know 30 minutes have passed, I get up and do something else.  Adding a row to the quilt is the perfect solution.
It has been a nice and sunny day so really enjoyed my walk with Heidi.  We had a little mouse run across the road in front of us which cause a bit of excitement for the dog.  Probably for the mouse as well.
Blessings.

Dance the Watusi.

Our trip to and from Barrie yesterday was with good driving conditions.  My appointment with the specialist started right on schedule and finished early so all that could be good, was.  We did a bit of shopping and was home by 5 p.m.  As we had left at 9.30, it made for a long day.  Road trips that are longer than half an hour create problems for my neck which result in it being sore and stiff and then I get a headache so I wasn't dancing the Watusi (not that I know how) when we got home.
We had dropped our Heidi off at the neighbour's who does her grooming so when we got home we had an excited and extra cute dog.
Still feeling the effects today but am getting some things done.  Hubby went off to play cards so I have had the afternoon to myself.
I finished adding the borders to a quilt and did a bit of tidying as well as taking our dog for a short walk.  I am gradually getting some of my old projects finished.  of course, I do start others but am trying to stay ahead.
We are enjoying a nice sunny day and it is good to have a few days when it isn't snowing.
Blessings,