June 23, 2012

Another warm but a little cooler day today.  At least the humidity is down and it feels much more comfortable.
Started my packing and did a fair amount.  I don't have anymore boxes so I have been cleaning out closets and drawers trying to rid myself of those things "I might need one day".  So much is just nonsense and of no use or value so out it goes.
I have three weeks until the big moving day so I am in no great rush.  It's been too hot to rush at anything.  I cleaned up my old altar and cleansed so much of it with salt water and bay leaf and packed it away.  I did leave a few pieces I still need and really do want left out for now, but I must say it is looking pretty bare.
So many memories are being found among my clothes in my dresser.  Old cards from friends on holiday, pieces of hair from the grands, ribbons from special occasions and little bits of joy picked up here and there. It really is difficult to let them go.  So for the most part I have kept the dear ones and let some of the others go.
Saved up some old T-shirts to cut into strips for a new bathroom rug.  I may do that later tonight and what ever is left I will toss.
Packed most of my knitting things away except for the socks I'm working on and also got some of the fabrics put away too.  I will need more boxes to do much of anything else with the fabrics.  I hope to get a pantry style cupboard to put most of the fabric in once I'm moved.  It will make it so much easier to find things and know just what I have.
I am looking forward to this move.  I feel I must move on from here for some reason.  Yes, it is being sold and I really don't have a choice, but still something inside is telling me to move on.  This new place will help the knees, ankles and hip by not having any stairs to contend with and it is so close to everything and in walking distance.  It is a bit farther from work but not a bad walk in good weather and the bus is right at the corner.
All in all I am looking forward to it.  I will be closer to my friend Pat who is so wanting to learn to quilt and she is only two blocks away.  That will be fun too.  
Here is a picture of my latest quilt I finished last week.  Wanted to get it done before I moved.  It will look so nice on the sofa I hope to get in a couple of weeks.

Well back to work again.  So much to do.  Have a wonderful day.

Saturday

What a beautiful morning it is today.  The local Farmers Market opens today and I think I may go for a walk and check it out.  Likely won't be too much going on with it yet as it is the first day and for sure there won't be much in the way of produce.  But I do want to get some honey and it will be fun to see what everyone is selling.
It seems to becoming more popular over each season now even though it has been around for some years.  I think the "buy local" mind set is now grabbing roots with most people and that is helping to boost business for the vendors.
I really should get at some house cleaning too.  There is so much dust and Drac fur everywhere.  Opening the windows now helps to bring in the dust.  And being on the main street with all the trucks and other traffic just makes it worse.  So I will break out the Swiffer and get it cleaned up some hopefully today but my sewing machine is sitting here beside me beckoning me, with all the pieces for the new blocks waving their little threads at me, calling me to them......I must prevail and go to the market and clean up the dust bunnies!!!  Well, maybe after I put together a couple of blocks.........sigh.........

Friday Night

It's actually just the start of Spring here in Northern Ontario.  The apple trees and lilacs are just beginning to bloom now and walking home from work, I can smell the fragrance of those pretty pink flowers.
The ones by the court house are again full of blossoms like last year.  I'm hoping there will be a big yield of crab apples like last year and I can make more crab apple jelly again this Fall.
I'm hoping to get lots of strawberries too this year.  They should be ready in another two to three weeks.  I want to put up a bunch of jam with them this year.  Didn't quite make enough last year.
Of course, dill pickles and bread and  butter pickles will be done again.  Have to have those for sure!!
Might even talk my sister into going blueberry picking this year too.  They grow wild almost everywhere around here so why not use them.
Finished my Strawberry Dreams quilt and I am very pleased with it.  The quilting was all done on my little machine but I did enjoy it.  I am getting the hang of the Free Motion Quilting now and like to play and experiment with different things.  But my wrist does act up sometimes and makes it more difficult to get things done as fast as I would like.

These are a couple of pictures of the quilt I just finished.  I have already started to sew together some blocks for my next one.  It is a pretty colour way and I love the feel of the fabrics on it too.  I think it is going to be very pretty but not quite as big as this one is.
The local Farmer's Market opens tomorrow so I may pop over to see what they have.  Usually there isn't too much just yet.  Not until later in the summer does all the local produce start to come in.  I do want to get some honey though and hopefully the lady that sells it will be there.  She always carries her buckwheat honey and it is to die for.  We shall see how I feel tomorrow and if I want to make the walk done.
Hope all have a pleasant evening.
Goddess Bless


Alana

Friday

I keep thinking I should post here all the time but that is the problem....time.  I am so into quilting now all my spare time is spent on it.  Not good though.....I truly should get back into my writing.  I have a few stories to finish and a few more to tell.  They are all there in my little brain but I just get so tied up in everything else and don't spend time on my writing like I should.  Of course, a bit of wine helps too and being on Weight Watchers has put the wine on a bit of a hold.  Actually, I have a beautiful bottle of Merlot sitting in the cabinet.  maybe I might just rescue it tonight and give the old wrists a rest from the quilting........sounds like a plan.
Work week is done, I have championed another 2.6 pounds now sporting a total loss of 33 pounds, yes, I think a glass of the grape is in order tonight.

Happy Mother's day to all and enjoy this glorious weekend....

My very first large quilt.  Took me three months to make.  It's called Summer in the Park.  It is also reversible and fits a double sized bed.  Like the pinwheel quilt it was long arm quilted but oh, it is soooo beautiful with pillow cases to match......

This is one of my first large quilts I made.  Made with pinwheels and is reversible. Made with 126 pinwheels each cut and sewn individually.  It's a single bed size.  It was long arm quilted with swirls and it took me over four hours to hand sew the binding on.  I do love this one.....Pinwheels of Summer.

May 5, 2012

Beautiful day here again today.  I will work on my quilt again and hopefully get a lot done.  Went crazy with it yesterday and really got a lot done.  It's going to be a beauty when I have finished.
Will post pictures when I am done....if I can figure it out....