Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Since my pile of library books is growing – yes, I picked up another one yesterday – I decided on the weekend that this would be a reading week. I had time to read a bit yesterday afternoon but today is the first day that I have intentionally sat down for the afternoon with a book in my hand.

This morning I took care of a couple of phone calls I needed to make and then I did a bit of tidying. I had some scraps left on the cutting table from my Community Quilt, as well as some scraps from my last Alias Grace block. When those were cleaned up I got started on the next Alias Grace block.

I was going through the bin of blocks I already had made to help me decide on a colour for this next block. I noticed that I already had one that looked very much the same as the one I thought I was supposed to be doing. I went through the book and numbered all the blocks and I was one block ahead of where I thought I should be.

I didn’t have a pattern for the King Solomon’s Temple block. I looked through my book of block patterns and didn’t find anything. I looked online and, again, no luck. That meant I had to draw it out and sort out the measurements on my own. I got the centre three rounds done and I think I have the next one figured out. King Solomon was supposedly very wise. If that were the case you would think he’d have left better instructions for his temple.

The snow has stopped and It still looks pretty outside. I’m curled up under a blanket as I read. Now, back to my book.

Monday, January 15, 2024

I was barely up in time to sign on to our cousins’ chat. A cup of coffee was all I managed after dressing and combing what little hair I have. When the call was over I needed to get a move on to get my parcel ready for today’s mail. I had a box that was the perfect size but it was full of Christmas wrapping paper and all our recycle bins are full. We’ll have extra bins to put to the curb tomorrow. I found a bigger box than I needed but cut it down (not very neatly) and I think it will hold together long enough to get to its destination.

It was almost ten before the package was wrapped and the hockey game was just starting. It was a morning game in the West because it is Martin Luther King Jr. day in the States so an afternoon game on the holiday. Pat drove me to the post office and we were home just a bit after the game started – just as the Canucks were scoring their first goal. They lost in overtime but at least got a point out of the game.

After the game it was time for me to get to the tasks I generally accomplish in the mornings. I sorted the laundry and got a load going. I sewed the binding on the quilt and got it ready to take to the Guild tomorrow. It is the middle of the month so my monthly computer clean-up was due.

I’m done all that now (except for a couple more loads of laundry) so I’m going to relax in my chair and play a few games. This was supposed to be a reading week for me but there was too much to do today – maybe tomorrow!

Sunday, January 14, 2024

I’ve made progress on projects but I don’t have anything actually done today.

I finished the quilting on the donation quilt shortly after lunch. I trimmed the edges and prepped the binding. I have enough binding to hang myself; I hope there is enough to go around the quilt. I’ll get it attached to the quilt tomorrow so I can do the hand stitching at the Guild on Tuesday.

I checked my tablecloth last night. I have two different motifs of Mum’s but the way I added them into the tablecloth looks weird. So I’ll be crocheting some more and adding another round to the whole thing; this last round will include Mum’s squares. I really wanted it to be done but I also really want to incorporate Mum’s original work into it.

I’m almost finished a library book so I’ll take the rest of the afternoon to read and perhaps I’ll get it done tonight.

Saturday, January 13, 2024

I had a very productive two days of sewing with Stacia and Deloise. I admit my pattern was a relatively easy one but getting it done and moving on in one day was a first for me. When Catherine was done I moved on to the next bonus block for the chicken project. I traced it, cut out the shapes and got them pinned to the background.

On day two I continued with the chickens, this time on the main block. I prepped the background, traced the shapes and applied them to the felt. I’ll trim the pieces one evening while watching a hockey game. In the afternoon I took a short break and walked to a friend’s house. Her kids arranged an Open House for her birthday. When I got home I finished one more Alias Grace block.

This morning I finished off two gift projects I’ve been working on. I’ll get them packaged for the mail tomorrow and up to the post office Monday.

This afternoon while we watched the hockey game I pretty much finished the tablecloth. I got Mum’s squares attached and I’m just doing some edging around them. I brought it upstairs to see if there is anything else I want to do with it.

After the game I baked a cake to use up the pumpkin and evaporated milk I had bought for our Thanksgiving pumpkin pie that never got made. I was able to use my new hand mixer (thank you Kathryn) – so much easier than dragging out the big mixer. I used my new spatulas that Elizabeth included in my 12 days packages. Tonight when we (hopefully) enjoy the cake we’ll be using the cutlery that Christy sent.

No wonder I’m tired – that’s a lot.