Facebook and Lists

I have spent most of the morning uploading photos to my husband's Facebook acount.  I had to find a photo for his 'profile' picture and download pictures from the camera to upload into his album.  (Don't you just love the new techie language)  He is really enjoying Facebook and finds it easier to deal with than e mail.  I prefer e mail.  The only time I go to Facebook is when someone sends me a message and that is usually my husband's family. 
I do find that photos upload faster to this medium but that is the only positive for me.  Of course, I can now add the fact that Roger can communicate with his family and friends without my help.  Big plus.  I don't mind helping but that usually means stopping what I am doing and hovering over his shoulder until he is able to continue on his own.
I am trying to get my bits and pieces done today.  I made a list last night of people that I need to phone or write to (real pen and paper) as well as other jobs.  Downloading photos was on the list so I can mark that one off.  I find that a list is one way to ensure that I will do the things that keep sliding to the bottom of the priority list.
Yesterday, I made 18 jars of jam and 4 loaves of bread so today was supposed to be a day off. However, I have hung the laundry out, cleaned house and, as mentioned, worked on my list.  Tomorrow, I have to go to the city and shop so perhaps I can take Saturday as a free day.  One would suppose that when you are retired you have every day off but those who have reached this time of life know that it isn't true-especially for women.
I just have to put the final border on the paperpieced bird quilt and then I can get that project marked off my unwritten list.
Blessings,

Photos

Just some photos today.

The first  is, as you can see, some autumn finery.  There were horses in this field but not close enough to the trees to include them. There is still some wonderful views in the area although the colours are fading somewhat.

The second photos is of the quilt top that won first prize in our fall fair.  These fabrics, with the exception of the dark blue used for sashing and border, are all from the 1950's.  Whe I get it quilted, I will post the finished project.

On to my jam and bread making,
blessings,

Domestic Bliss

Welcome to our new member.  When you have a few moments, go through the previous blogs and see if any of the free patterns are something you can use.
I spent this morning making chili sauce.  Such a lot of work but it is nice to have all those jars ready for the winter.  Tomorrow, I need to make more bread and will get started on turning all the berries that have been waiting in the freezer into jam.
I have already done pickled beets and relish so the cupboards are starting to fill up.
I almost completed the bird quilt top yesterday.  I hope to have it finished today and then will take a photo to share.  Will also do one of the top that one first prize at the fall fair.  Once the bird top is done, I will get it quilted.  The other quilt I am going to top stitch by hand.  I then can re enter it in the fair as a completed project. Of course, that plan is open to change.  I am not a very good hand quilter.
We are continuing to get rain and a lot of our leaves have fallen.  They are so lovely on the trees but they do make an equally lovely carpet.  If it ever dries up, I will take the dog for a walk through the bush and let her romp through the leaves. 
She seems to have fully recovered from her jaw injury although she is till getting the pain medication.  Bones are definately off her menu.
Blessings,

Old Treasure's

We have had severe rainfall warnings for this area so I expect that, if we get it, my internet service will go down.  We get internet and tv from satallite so the weather sometimes interferes with the signal, especially if it is extreme.
I am working on the layout for my paperpieced bird quilt today.  I am still having trouble deciding on the fabric for the alternate blocks.  I have some that I really like but I think it makes it look 'Christmasy'. Decisions, decisions.  I think that I will get my husband's opinion when he comes in from cutting wood.  He has a nice colour sense.
Later on, my husband and I are going to visit a couple.  She has an old quilt that she wants me to see with the idea of me doing some restoration work on them.
This is something I really enjoy doing although I am not a professional by any means.  I would never tackle a museum quality quilt but I get a lot of joy from making someone's family treasure usuable.  There is just something about an old quilt that I find appealing.  It doesn't really matter about the quality of workmanship or choice of fabrics.  These treasure's are the work of someone's hands, a labour of love for their family members.   I am looking forward to seeing what she has.
Blessings,

Philosophy

Heidi is back to normal.  The pain killers the vet prescribed are allowing her to eat so she is back to her walking stomach, bouncy self. 
This photo was part of an e mail of 12 commandments sent by a friend.  The pictures, as you can see, are rockwellian, and the words are good reminders to be grateful for what we have.
I am sure that people have always dreamt of bigger and better but, I believe, that television and lottery ads have pushed that desire to a new high.
I am going to set myself a goal of starting each day being thankful for at least one thing.
Today, it is Heidi's returned health and, if I am permitted a second, it would be the wonderful autumn colours.
Blessings

In Praise of EQ

Followers of this blog will have heard me refer to EQ a number of times.  There are a number of computer quilt programs on the market and I have a couple of them.  My favourite, by far, is EQ (Electric Quilt).  I use it to design, choose colours and figure out the math involved in creating a quilt.
I have been working on a quilt for my sister -in -law for some time.  She wasn't in any rush so it kept getting pushed back on my to do list.  It has, however, finally made it to the top of my priorities and I am getting it finished.  The feature blocks are paper pieced birds from Jodie Davis' book, Backyard Bird Quilts.  She is a wonderful paper pieced pattern designer and I really like this book.  In fact, I wish she bring out another with even more birds.
I had been having a lot of problem deciding what my alternate blocks would be and finally, yesterday, decided to use Jodie's sample.  From there, I went to EQ to do the layout with my own colour choices and, voila, a quilt.  These blocks will be quick and easy so I should (key word is should) have the quilt done and ready for the top stitching by the end of the month.
I do have a small project to do before the weekend but, other than that, I am free.
Have to take our Heidi to the vet this morning as she still isn't well.  I suspect a bone or something caught in her jaw.
Blessings,

Thunderstorms and Four Legged Children

I never know how to describe a thunderstorm.  All the usual adjectives-good, terrific, terrible-never quite seem accurate.  What I want to say is that there was a lot of thunder and lightening but I only want to use one descriptive word.  Oh, well, it will probably come to me later and then I will forget when we have another storm.
Whatever word used, last nights storm was a doosy.  It woke us all up.
Although, I don't usually like being awake through the night, I was glad of the opportunity to check on our dog.  She went off her feed in the afternoon and wouldn't eat anything not even her bacon treats which usually send her into tremours of excitement.  We were, of course, quite concerned.  Heidi, not eating, is like me not quilting.  She seems to be back to normal today but am keeping her on softer foods for the day.
One of the ladies in our local quilt group also had  scare yesterday.  She has two little pugs-her 'girls', and she got a call saying they had got out.  Like us, she lives in a rural area with the danger of larger animals.  She dashed off leaving us to take care of her stuff.  I was quite concerned as our Heidi had done the same thing once and I spent a frantic half hour or so searching for her.
The girls were found and, I am sure were hugged, scolded and given a nice treat so today our respective worlds are joyful.
Blessings