This and That

 Here we are again, another week has come and gone and I'm not sure what is what. I think this pandemic is getting to me as I am finding it easier and easier to ignore the things that should be done. I have even moved on to ignoring things I want to do. For example, I still have not taken pictures of the two quilts I finished recently. Its getting closer to being done but has not actually happened yet.  By closer I mean I have placed them in a laundry basket to be carried upstairs where they get photographed. Yes I know that's a pretty big job, no wonder I need a break. 

Ok lets focus on some of the things that I did get done this week. I actually finished recovering my kitchen chairs. A moment of silence for this incredible feat, if you please. 

This was the last chair that I started on Saturday . Its not a perfect job for many reasons. Only one set of hands to hold the pieces, hands not as strong as they once were, etc, etc. The hair dryer did help the situation in getting the material stretched. I love the colour, they all match and there is no more duct tape covering up cracks in the upholstery. 

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Please note the nice clean table top. This only happens in this house when there is no outsiders in the house or coming to the house. Its usually a total dump site when I actually have company.

Again we have to deal with my mad skillz at photography but it gives you the idea. I am happy with my chairs and thrilled beyond measure that they are finally completed. 

The joints I need to make The Hostesses teddy bear have finally, at long last made it to my front door. Now I can get at doing that one of these days. I have a couple of jobs to do for other folk and as always a long list of things I want to make for myself. 

On Saturday I got a text that simply said "Door Dash". Interesting! I immediately went to the veranda to explore and found this.

A pretty little spring themed jug stuffed with pussy willows. I love pussy willows !! Along with them were two homemade fruit tarts in a little container that said "Made with love". What a lovely surprise on a Saturday afternoon. The tarts were instantly gobbled up along with a cup of tea and the pussy willows found a place of pride in the living room.

Have I ever mentioned I have the most lovely friends?

At times it feels like all I do is sit and stare at the television and accomplish nothing. Other times I feel that I am making slow progress. I am using my dear Mother's advice and doing a little every day. She always said if you do a little every day you will see a result in time. I am seeing the result, it just should be faster but I cannot seem to make myself get at it. Not sure what the heck is up with that. 

Teddy Bear took a garbage bag full of scrap afghans out of my house on Friday. She will see if her daughter can use them, or if she, herself, would like them and if not she will take them to donation. I am just glad to have them out of my house. I have a couple of bags of textile recycle I need to take to recycle depot but I can do that on my own. Some more donations will go with The Banker next time she can stop in. See, little bits that will add up over time.

I did crochet two balls of scrap yarn into a scarf yesterday while I wan watching season 3 of Fargo. It will go in the bag with the rest of the scarves and hats I am making for the Safe and Warm Shelter. I find it amusing that no matter how many things I make from scrap yarn, I still have baskets of the stuff around the house.

We are going into four weeks of a stricter lock down as of now. They are trying to flatten the curve of this third wave of the pandemic. Sometimes I wonder if we will ever see a glimmer of normal life again. It does get a person down but we need to follow the rules. Much as we don't like to. From the amount of cars and people coming and going from a house on my street, I think they were playing outside their bubble this weekend.

Toodles

Linda

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Yard Birds

 Oh my, last Saturday was just the best! The weather was lovely and warm and The Banker rounded up all those that could and we met in her yard for coffee and a chat. I cannot remember the last time we got together, the No Cook gals that is, and had a good visit together. It was some time last year that is for sure. Four of us managed to be there and for two lovely hours we had a great time. We brought out own beverages and no one used the bathroom. Covid rules were observed as much as possible. It was lovely to see them together. I have seen everyone individually or at most two at a time but four of us was a rare treat. Its a good thing we did it on Saturday because Sunday turned cold, and wintery and just generally annoying.

I finished my quilt. Its all bound and waiting for a bath. That will happen at some point today.

I found a home for it as well. Teddy Bear's daughter is moving herself and the grandkids to a place of her own at the end of this month. So I am sending this quilt, another and a couple of scrap afghans off with her. Actually I told Teddy Bear I was putting them in her hands and what happened to them in the end I did not care, I just was happy they were going to get used. Next I will probably start on Birthday Twin's quilt, made from her husband's shirts. 

Hmm what else? It truly is hard to blog when you are in the midst of a pandemic, have no pets, don't go much of anywhere and am generally not a super exciting person.  I did make a new little curtain topper for the upstairs bathroom and I seriously think I was a bit drunk when I did it. What was I thinking??

My bathroom is pale pink. I would have sworn this material was a sort of pink. Ok I now realize its a dark coral. Its the wrong colour, its way too dark, about the only thing I got close to right was that size. Sometimes I amaze myself. Can I blame all of this on Covid?? No, well fine then. Scratch that idea and I will try again. 

Nothing else I can think of. So I will give this up and go change out the laundry. The Banker is coming for a visit this afternoon. She usually pops in once a week and I love her for it.

Toodles

Linda

Prairie Springtime

 Well we knew it was bound to happen, it usually does. The snow all melts, the weather warms and then this happens

Even though its not a total surprise it is a disheartening little event. We did not get the brunt of it but we got enough to make it look like a winter wonderland yet again. Sigh, Its heavy and wet and will be gone soon enough but it does knock the stuffing out of a person.

So there is a pot of soup simmering on the stove, the laundry is chugging away in the machine and I am currently ignoring the number of jobs that I would like to get done.

I would like to get the kitchen chairs finished recovering, two done, two more to go. I have a metal storage cabinet that I want to paint, I've had the paint for ages. I have some furniture upstairs that needs painting, There are more jobs but I just can't think of them at the moment. It amazes me how much I can want to do and how much I can ignore at the same time. I am a mystery unto myself.

I am getting one thing done, Probably the easiest thing for me to do and the one I love the most. Yes I am ignoring a lot of other things because of this:

I think this just may be my first donation quilt. I have given this a lot of thought. I will always want to quilt. I can only give away or have people ask me to make so many. Most of that market is saturated. I don't need any quilts, strangely enough I have more than I need. So I have decided to use my scrap stash and make quilts to donate to the local Women's Shelter. This one may be the first to go and I have no need of it but made it just because I wanted to play with the pattern. I nearly have it quilted. 

The Banker stopped in yesterday and we had a lovely visit. She stayed far longer than she usually does. It was really nice. This pandemic has made us appreciate interactions with other human beings more than ever.

Toodles

Linda

Its Been A Year

So we have been dealing with this pandemic for more than a year now, its gotten very tiresome and believe me I am very aware that I do not have it as bad as some do coping with the rules and regulations. Its still tiresome. I think mostly l am feeling grumpy and sorry for myself today. That never helps things. 

Its also been a year since I retired. April 3rd 2020 was my last day at work. Where has the time gone?? I still love everything about being retired and have to pinch myself to know that I don't work anymore. This is the longest time since I was six years old that I have not had someone or something else dictating my time. Its a miracle to me. I love being at home and puttering about. It makes me amazingly happy.

So inspite of being happy today I am grumpy and feeling sorry for myself. Its nothing big. Today is a windy rainy day and those days always make me more stiff and sore than normal. I have a sinking feeling that I am getting arthritis in my arms and shoulders. My quilting is not helping but I love doing it so much I push through. There is so much I would like to do but the stiffness and the pain puts obstacles in my way and now and then it gets me down.With my arms acting up its not making for a happy bunny that's for sure.

I missed Easter with my family and that is not helping. Covid makes traveling hard and as much as I wanted to see them, it was the wise thing to stay home.  I have such mobility issues it impacts what I can do  when I am with them. They can all bop around as they please with no problem. They do include me , even though I am a problem and I love them for it. Sigh. Its a real pity party around here today. 

Ugg I am getting on my own nerves now. So lets change the subject, I have started a new quilt. Princess Diva found the top in a second hand store and gave it to me. I am just now getting at getting it quilted.

Not sure what I will do with it but I love it. Its very Canadiana. I also made an Easter runner, I was sent a picture by a friend on facebook and decided to try my hand at my version of the runner, I think its rather cute.

I am thinking I want to make some themed runners and table squares in the near future. I have some already but I am thinking St Patrick's day, Valentines day , Canada Day etc. It will give me something to do and I like that idea. We will see what the future brings.

Not much else to share today, I had a very nice veranda visit this weekend from my cousin and her daughter. We don't see each other much even though we live in the same town, It was nice to catch up on family news and have a chat.

Tomorrow is grocery day and I think I will treat myself to breakfast out. Today I have no idea what I will do besides quilt. There is always lots to do, its just a matter of working up the fortitude to actually do it. Yeesh.

Toodles,

Linda