Big Girl Pants

On Monday I went to get a grocery order. I walked by my flower beds and it was very evident that my wishing for rain did nothing but bring forth the weeds in abundance. Later when I got home I sat on the veranda for a few minutes and surveyed the situation. 

Weed, weeds and more weeds. I could not see the hostas, the spirea shrubs across the font of the yard looked like they were dead as door nails. All I could think of was the expense to replace the plants, the time effort and pain that taking care of the weeds would take. Would I have to pay someone to do it, I can't afford that at the moment, It just suddenly became way to much and I got totally overwhelmed. 

So in the true sense of being a sensible, mature grown up, I took myself into the house, into the craft room and immediately dove headfirst into  my happy place and didn't come up for air for the rest of the day. I have got myself over my snit thankfully. Yesterday I gave myself a talking to.

Truth be told I need to do this stuff myself, pain and slowness be damned, I need to do it. I have started to attack the weeds and I will do it bit by bit. . I have made peace with the face that its going to take a long time but who cares?? I can do it. Good news it that the hostas have poked their little heads out of the ground and the shrubs (all of them) have finally begun to leaf out. Even the lilac bushes look like they may rally this year, both of them. I thought they were gone but there may be hope.  My bank account is eternally grateful.

While I was having my toddler meltdown in the craft room I finally took a stab at something I have not really done before, needle turned applique. I was gifted these incomplete Sunbonnet Sue blocks some time ago and I finally decided to try doing something with them.

 I think I did a decent job and I do enjoy the process. I am looking at this quilt as a practice run for a quilt I plan to make for myself. Now I have figured out I can actually do a reasonable job at it I am not so apprehensive to work on the one for me.

I have no idea what I will do with this quilt once its done but I am have a good time working on it. Some blocks are machine quilted, some have not been quilted at all, Its going to be interesting getting it put together but I will be happy to do it. I am now at a point where I can start putting the blocks together. Some face one way and some face the other, six are boys and the rest are girls. I think I have finally settled on a lay out pattern. 

I'm not going to machine quilt it, Its not my thing but I will hand quilt the blocks that need to be finished. The blocks that the other lady worked on are done to a very high standard. Her husband would like picture of the finished quilt. His wife passed away before she could get it done. I had, and actually still have a Sunbonnet Sue quilt my aunt made me as a child, Its not as fancy as this one but I love it. 

We are still in serious lock down, the weather is still cold, my furnace keeps cutting in, Such fun!!  have run out of news so I am going to work on my boy quilt blocks so I can get this quilt together.

Toodles 

Linda

Bits and Pieces

I am late at getting a post put together, for the same old reason, I am not sure it I have anything of any interest to post about. So instead of trying to be interesting and thought provoking I will fill you in on a few little things, bits and pieces of the day to day details of my life

I quilted the last of the flimsies that were waiting in a pile to be turned into quilts. The last one was a pig themed quilt gifted to me by a friend. It was the last in the pile to be attended to and I am happy to say its done. 

 I have not taken the final portrait of the full quilt but I will. Its done and waiting to have its bath and picture taken. I will keep it downstairs and use it as an extra blanket for the couch.

I made myself a table runner for the kitchen. I used my "good" fat quarters and spend the afternoon yesterday and today whipping up this little number.

I am rather fond of this ribbon pattern and am happy with the results. I do have a thing for table runners, I like to make them and I like to use them.

I got to use one of my new toys on this runner. I bought quilt binding clips. No, I did not need them, I have load of pins that will do the job just nicely, However these little clips tickle my fancy so I bought a few. I do like them

I have decided for the time being just to paint my kitchen counter. I will replace the counter top at some point but for now this is a more economical fix. I have also decided I want to repaint the stairs. I love my rainbow stairs but they have had their day, time for a change. So I think I have made the colour choices for both projects. In time they will happen.

I still continue to work on the organizing but damn, am I slow. Some days I wish I had a minion just to buzz round and put things away. It would be a wonderful leap forward. Put things away and take some things to donation and I would feel like a new woman. Well I just need to get on with it myself, because I cannot have anyone it at the moment. My designated visitor already has a full plate and does not need to be doing stuff for me that I can and should do for myself. I will just keep poking away at it and it will eventually get done. Slow and steady wins the race, emphasis on the slow.

I am trying to figure out how to get a few bedding plants and that is about it for me and the excitement around here.

Toodles

Linda

Round Three!!

 WE are back into a serious lock down, We have been doing this for more than 14 months and the goal posts seem to keep moving. I know we are all getting heartily sick of these rules and restrictions but they are necessary to get a handle on this pandemic. I could go on for days about this but there is no point, the situation is what it is and we need to do as we are told.

I was very lucky as I had a hair cut booked for Tuesday. (We locked down on Sunday.) My wonderful hairdresser went in to work on Saturday and I got to get my hair cut before non essential businesses closed down one more time. I also remembered to go and pick up my photos that I had nearly forgotten about. What else did I do on Saturday??  The No Cooks had coffee in the park, which was lovely. We can still have five people gather in a public spot for the moment. Rules change daily it seems so for now we have been able to get together. Its like a breath of fresh air. Not all of us can be there but its so good to see those that can.

My snow irremovable guy came last week, he brought a friend and they gave my yard the cleaning of its life. I don't think its ever been this tidy. A truck full of leaves and branches left my yard and I am so very pleased

It is good to have it done. I had friends offer to do it but this pandemic makes things so hard. I did not want to put anyone in harms way. They even dug up the flower bed where nothing was planted for two years. Currently  I am busy plotting what I will plant this year. I nearly have my  yard to the point where it looks how I like it but requires minimal effort on my part. I have no idea how easy or hard it will be to get plants this year. Its crazy  times out there.

I was busy doing mending jobs for other people and I still have more to do. I turned a table cloth and some yardage  into two sets of curtains. I recovered an outdoor cushion and now I am going to take a stab at making a teddy bear for a friend. It took me ages to get the parts for it, now I need to get at making it.

 I have a quilt to make for Birthday Twin and I have some quilted quilt blocks that were 

given to me that I need to sew together into a quilt. Not sure what I will do with the blocks once its done. The lady that made them did a lot of lovely work on them.

I also made myself a St Patrick's day table topper and runner. Just little, quick projects that keep my hands busy. I have decided I want some themed runners and table toppers so I have started to work on my collection.

I want them for the dining table, the buffet and the chest of drawers in the entry way. In between other things I will work on these for myself. 

As always there are no end of things to do around here. I got my grocery pick up this morning and I don't know about you but I am finding not everything is available like it used to be. No to mention that  for the very first time today my order was a half hour late. I imagine these new restrictions are interfering with staffing. 

I bought my breakfast again today and that will be it for awhile. As much as I love the treat of it, its just too dang expensive to do it too often. So for at least until I do the next grocery run, I will be making my own breakfast right here at home 

Well I should go and get busy doing something. I am not sure what. One of the things I am working with now is that YES there is always something to do around here but I cannot always talk myself into doing it. No matter how much I may want to get it done 

Toodles

Linda

Monday, Monday

 Ok nothing puts you in a panic first thing in the morning than thinking you are out of coffee pods. Not sure how I managed to hid the box on myself. I buy pods 100 at a time so the box in not itty bitty. Long story short, the last of the pods were found and my anxiety level could get back to its normal level. Coffee is firmly on the list for the next grocery shop.

My yard guy is supposed to arrive sometime today to clean up the mess that last fall left. Mama Bug had graciously offered for her and her husband to come and do it for me but Covid reared its ugly head again and I don't want them to be doing anything that is not safe. I have some other jobs in mind for them once we can move a little more freely. I am getting my snow removal guy to do it all. He is having child care issues this morning so he will be arriving as soon as that is taken care of.

Finally, finally I managed to get the pictures taken of the last two quilts I have made. The easiest jobs can be the biggest some days. SO  here they are

The top one will be going to Teddy Bear and the red and white one is going to stay with me. I may swap it out with this one 

in the spare bedroom. One for summer and one for winter. I have not decided for sure yet but I do know that I am keeping it.

My next quilting projects are seasonal table runners and toppers, along with Birthday Twin's quilt. That should keep me out of trouble for a minute or two. I started the St Patrick's day ones yesterday. I just have to add the stems to the shamrocks.

I am pleased with it, I think its turning out rather cute. Since I learned how to snowball the corners on a block I am using it every chance I get as I really like the look.

The Banker sent out an invite again and the four of us (those that could) gathered at a local park on Saturday afternoon and had a visit.

Lock down rules say we cannot have visitors inside or out in our own homes but we  can gather outside in a public spot.You have to keep the numbers down to 10. It was so nice to see the no cooks again and share the joys and frustrations of our lives. We spent two hours in the sunshine and it was rejuvenating. Now we just need to hope that the weather is good next weekend so we can do it again. 

I have been watching way too many home reno shows and I am literally twitching to do something in the house. I have been in this house for more than 10 years and I am thinking it could use a freshening. I have a list of things I would like to redo and replace.  As usual my wallet cannot keep up to my wish list.  I have to keep in mind I am not as able to do all that I used to do. I do have some plans though and will be sharing my adventures as they unfold.

Toodles

Linda

 

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