Wednesday, January 11, 2012

My appliqué project has lagged far behind these past few months. My October block is about half stitched and, because I got caught up in Christmas projects, I didn’t get back to them until today. I was three more blocks behind and had my work cut out for me.

I did a bit of cleaning and laundry this morning and then, as I was anticipating a full day at home, Margaret called. We had planned to go out to Pasta Night on Monday but she had come down with a bad cold and didn’t want to go out. We talked on Tuesday night and she said she thought she’d better stay at home so she’d be well enough for the Red Cross shift on Thursday. This morning when I talked to her she said she wasn’t feeling very well and thought her cold was moving into her chest. I suggested that she should see the doctor so she said she’d call for an appointment for Friday. She called back to say that the doctor wouldn’t be in the office on Thursday or Friday but he could see her this afternoon. I was glad about that because I thought it was better to see him sooner rather than later.

I had time before lunch to trace the pieces for two of the blocks, get them cut out and transferred to the fabric. I felt more comfortable choosing the fabrics for these blocks than I usually do. Perhaps the fabric choices in the packages were better this time around. I guess the proof will be in whether I like the color combinations when the blocks are done.

After the doctor’s appointment Margaret needed a thermometer so we stopped at Shopper’s. When we finished there Margaret suggested coffee so off we went to McDonalds. She had some nice photos from her trip to Edmonton over Christmas.

One story led to another and she ended up telling me the story of how she closed her Dad’s bank account. When he passed away he had some money in his bank account but Margaret’s Power of Attorney was no longer valid. She talked to her brother and he said she should go to the bank immediately and take out most of the money. He also told her not to tell anyone her Dad had died. She had no problem at the bank and she was able to transfer the money to cover funeral expenses. Later, when her Dad’s casket was being shipped to Edmonton, her brother told her to take out the rest of the money and close the account. When she got to the bank she wasn’t sure what to say so she told the teller that her Dad had “gone to Edmonton” and wanted her to close the account. Again she had no problem and, as she says, he was going to Edmonton!

Since I was near the fabric shop when I dropped Margaret at home I stopped in and got some backing fabric for both the Bargello project and the Mystery Quilt. I also picked up a handful of fat quarters at $1 each. I thought they would be good for the Block of the Month group I have joined online but when I looked at the pattern again tonight I decided they wouldn’t work as well as I thought. I had other fabric in my stash (I love having a stash ) that will work. Lainey (the shop owner) had a lovely black/white/red wall hanging that incorporates circles. When I commented on it she said she is teaching a class in the Spring if I wanted to sign up. I haven’t decided whether or not to take the class, but I have always loved the look of the black and white quilts. Most of them have just a splash of color, often red, blue or yellow.

Before supper I got the third block traced, cut and transferred to the fabric. It didn’t take long after supper to get all the pieces from the three blocks cut out. I think if I have an “Appliqué Day” every week I may be able to catch up by the summer. In my ideal week I have a day for appliqué, a day for Christmas crafts, a day for UFO’s, and a day for new projects. I’ve accepted that my ideal week will never happen, but I’m very happy with the reality of my days.