Slaving away

Slaving away in the studio, and glad to by busy, although I still haven't received the threads I need to start on the reliquary.  The bookmarks are finished for the sale next weekend, and I've made one small quilt. Hoping to finish another today.  The grey hexie bag is done, and I should be able to get another done before sale day.

This frenzy has, again, demonstrated how limited the space is in the studio, especially so, when I have all of the supplies ready for the reliquary, just sitting there.  I've been giving this some thought.  There is room in the closet, but the floor is covered with bags of hexies, and the other sewing machine with all of its accouterments.  With all of the culling being done downstairs there are many empty drawers in my rolling cabinets.  Today, I'm going to try seeing if I can actually empty one rolling cabinet by combining the stuff, from one, into  some of those empty drawers.  That empty cabinet could then come up and into the closet.  This would clear most of the flat surfaces in the studio, and give the illusion of more working space, if not the reality.

I managed to pick up the latest Louise Penny book at the library, even though I'm on the waiting list for it.  Knowing how much I've gained by re-reading the books after a bit of time, I left my name on the list, hoping to get it again after a couple of months.  Wouldn't you know it, my name was next on the list, and it's been waiting for me since Tuesday, after being taken back on Monday.  I'll have to go in today and let them know, and maybe have my name put back on the end of the list.

Grocery shopping and paying bills Tuesday, and yesterday Amber took us to Costco for more of the hummus I'm loving.  We also picked up hamburger, so today is Power Cooking day for spaghetti sauce and chili.  Thank Goodness for slow cookers!

A new experience for me unexpected

The usual trip to Huntsville yesterday netted me some excitement.  First I found an acceptable hat and scarf for Erin with aqua highlights at WalMart of all places.  It will appease my anxiety about getting her this gift as it has been playing on my mind.  I say acceptable because it isn't exactly what I had in mind, but it is close enough to be gifted.  Then I bought myself my own Tim Hortons 2017 mug. Their selection this year is lovely - four chooses of colour and design but I choose the standard Tim's reddish colour (which I love) with deers on the motif.  I am sipping my coffee in it as we speak. It holds my hands nicely which is important in a favourite mug haha!
On our way home through Burks Fall ( Harry goes to the Donation Store there)  I happened on another store that I had no idea was there. It happened that Harry thought he forget to get an item he purchased at the Donation store so he stopped just over the bridge at a little strip mall to check ( not a mall in terms of what you folks know as a strip mall) It contains the bowling alley and the restaurant and the Attorney generals office and a ski doo store but also another little store tucked in the middle. The sign said it was a wool store. So I hopped out while Harry drove back to get his forgotten item.  What an exciting find for me.  I felt I was in heaven.  As soon as I stepped into the store the lady said "Oh let me see your hat"  I wore my new red hat that I had just finished the night before. We struck up a wonderful conversation. The store was full of all that is good in life. That is, wool, and accessories and made items, and generally much to look at and covet haha!  Oh how I wished I could have looked at everything but maybe there is another trip needed here? I did buy a pair of crocheted "yoga socks" as a gift for Erin though - never seen anything like this but I am sure she will enjoy and use at her classes. No knitted mitts in aqua that I was looking for, but at this point I didn't care.  
So a good feeling day for me.  And really that's all we need, isn't is? Take care 

Sitting back

Cathy, one of the advantages of reaching our advanced age, is that we can step back and let others take over without feeling any guilt at all.  I've also found that I don't feel any guilt when they call for volunteers, and I'm able to say to myself--I did my bit last year, or 10 years ago--and now I don't feel any obligation to step forward for this.  I can pick and choose those activities that I feel comfortable with.  e.g. I no longer feel any obligation to help take down tables and stack chairs.  Sometimes I stick in the middle of things and look busy, and sometimes I just get out of the way.

This isn't to say that I don't still over-extend myself and end up taking on too much.  Six days this month, out at the gallery in 
Selkirk--craziness!

The weekend was spent putting together two small quilts to take to the craft show  Dec 8&9.  I cut the fabric and pieced them yesterday, and then pin basted them today.  Got blood on the top of one, bad words ensued, and then I spit on it ( your own saliva can help get out blood--as most needle workers know)  Then I sprayed it with Resolve, and watched it disappear.  Thank Goodness!  Tonight I hope to finish the book marks I'm making, and maybe even get in a poker tournament--it's been awhile.

Grey Cup ....not able to access

Tried to get online onto CBC to watch some of the game but not able at all. I listened to the CBC news on the hour to get updates but it just isn't the same as watching the actual game. Now, it would have been even nicer if Winnipeg Blue Bombers were part of it.  The fun of my Free Press readings every day was to keep up with the Bomber news - they were on a roll for awhile.... This is how I miss having the CBC on television - I loved to watch the CFL games.  Now we don't have any TV at all.  And presently, for some reason my VHS machine is not working - how will I ever watch my Christmas movies???
We just about have the old shed emptied - maybe two more trips. The deadline to be out is Dec 8 so I am feeling confident that we shall meet that date.
I finally finished knitting my red hat today.  I plan to wear it with the bright red scarf tomorrow when we go to Huntsville (it's Tuesday tomorrow isn't it?)
I have a new book to read. Erin gave me another one that I haven't read called  I Let You Go by Clare MacIntosh. Just started it last night so hardly into it yet. 
So it's off to bed ....Take care

Strange weekend

for the first time in years I did not spend all day working at the craft sale. No set up, no take down and no spending all day working. I did one shift (ok, almost two shifts cause I helped Rrain out) but I left after my shift. I really dudn’t Know what to do with my free time. And there was no Dickens’ reading today cause MTC is bringing “A Christmas Carol” in December. We went home after my shift but came back for the parade at 6pm. Today I cleaned the fridge. Found 13 frozen bananas. I told Jim he gets no more bananas unless he eats them. I mashed them all and froze them in two cup bags. I found a whole bunch of freezer burnt veggies in the freezer so I put them in the stock  pot and made vegetable stock. It actually tastes pretty good. I will freeze it in soup sized bags for later. And now I have cooked a tray of frozen h’ors  d’oerves (store bought) and we will eat them while the grey cup is on.  Pretty lazy weekend. I think I needed it cause I seem to be getting bitchier and bitchier at work. I needed a bit of down time. Oh no!  Jim told me he just broke one of our tv tables!  They can’t be more than 25 years old!  Things just don’t last very long 😜.   Grey cup is starting.   What a snow storm.

An early Christmas

A nice surprise to head out to Mike and Erin's yesterday. As we were trying to make Christmas plans, it was indicated to us that even if our planned date for celebration together was now January 6 (yes - this is what was decided because of all the other commitments they had) they had a gift for us each that was "time sensitive" and could we maybe make a fast trip sometime soon? So we drove there yesterday. Nice weather for driving for the most part but ran into some snow flurries on the way back. We stopped and bought a lunch from KFC on our way and met them at their home around noon.  I had wanted to go to the local Craft Shows before leaving - still looking for a scarf/hat set for Erin , but did not find anything. So that took up some time in the morning so we did not get a good start.
So what was in the box that was time sensitive.  I hoped it was not a live turkey in a cage haha!  Wow, two lighted ornaments that could be used inside or outside. Mine was a lighted owl and gorgeous. Harry's was a lighted squirrel and beautiful. Both in white and brilliant when lit up. Mike knows we like to decorate and that we love these sort of ornaments and said it would have been lost in effect if we didn't open them until Jan 6  and not before Christmas when we would have the most benefit.  Nice thought.  So today I shall get out an electric cord and rig up two tables outside and set them up. They will look great, I just know it.  And even with a slight thaw the last few days the temps have now dropped to around minus 10 and with a light dusting of snow overnight. Perfect.  We left them around 1:30 pm as it was starting to snow so it was a real quick visit. But they were both volunteering at the Markstay Santa Parade set for 5:30 pm ( I would have loved to stay but that was not to be) We talked about them starting to participate in the community and how important it was to be visible and set down roots. Erin started back with weekly Yoga at the church just down the street from their place and that gives her an outing and meeting others, which is hard if you work out of town all week. Mike has already made friends with others in the town.  The only issue right now is their next door neighbour who has a thing about them and their yard. He apparently cuts his grass constantly and thinks Mike should be doing the same.  We suggested building a nice fence along their property haha!
So it's back to usual now. I have a huge wash to do today as well as a million other things.  I did borrow some books from Erin - the one the neighbour Ruth was asking me about so maybe today I'll call her and walk over with them. She will be happy I finally got the one she wanted and I had promised to get for her to borrow.
So happy day to all....Take care

Gosh, there's opportunity banging on the window!

I got an e-mail today telling me that my application for a show at the new Gaynor Library in Selkirk has been successful, for two months next fall.  I received a call for entry, as a member of the gallery in Selkirk, and responded.  I will be displaying with two other artists as there are three distinct display spaces in the gallery, but that's fine!

Spent today working on my hexie work bag and making bookmarks.  I had sent picture to the organizer of the craft sale and she got back to me to tell me that there were three of us wanting to sell bags, and would that be a problem.  NO!  But it made me reconsider depending too much on the bags.  So I've arranged for some grids, and will take a couple of hangings, as well as the round mandalas.  I had planned to make the bookmarks for the gift shop in Selkirk for next February, so had them half done and all of the supplies available.  I got a good start on over 20 of them today.

We had planned a quiet day at home, and haven't left the house.  I knew that I needed to get my brain organised for the craft show, and sure got a good start on it.  Not sure how this evening will play out.  I think I need time to write up a plan for dealing with all of this.  Oh Good!  An opportunity to write up another list!