Influences

In admiring the colours and designs of your fabric collection just received Pati, I believe you may, indeed, be influenced by The Last Homely House host. Cathy I wonder if you have had a chance to log into that blog just so you know for yourself some of our references to her and the blog? She just completed a quilt on commission with bright and bold colours and she gushed with enjoyment and excitement with every mention of her choices. I must say, very similar to Pati's choices and also Kaffi's designs!! 
I think you are headed in the right direction Pati - good on you!
And in addition, I enjoyed the Mouse factory entry touring us through your design board - Oh, how this thrilled me, as it brought back memories for me as well. First that I have actually sat on your chair - there- and viewed this wall, and second because I, too, have a doll face - a souvenir from the Ottawa Convention of 2006. I also have been thinking so much of sewing again, and wondering how i could manage this. I had to pull out the machine to sew something for Harry a day or so ago, and then Mike asked if I could bring the machine to sew a torn top he had. With each sitting at the machine I was back into my dream state - the state where you wish you could sit all day at the machine and sew, and be perfectly happy!!
We went to Mike's today for a visit - I did sew his top while there - and had another nice get together. The only issue is that the dog Bailey is "out of sorts" and I am now worried enough that I shall call for an appt tomorrow at the Vet. He acted totally out of character on the trip and at Mike's and has been demonstrating some untoward symptoms over the last day or so. I get myself too upset when there is an issue with the animals - I guess because I feel helpless. So another worry!...ugh!
Time for bed and I'll deal with it tomorrow. The power went out here last night in the middle of the night for a few hours. Apparently Harry read after the fact that it was a planned outage but when you do not know so you can plan for it, it becomes an annoyance.  Take care folks. Love seeing all your pictures. Maybe I should learn how to send pictures - do you think it's time haha?

Life has been good

I don't know if I mentioned that I had ordered a bit of Kaffe Fassett fabric, over the internet, on Monday.  there was no source in Winnipeg, so I ordered from the only place in Manitoba I could get it--Morden.  I was very surprised when it arrived today.  I had thought I ordered 7 1/2 m in blue/turquoise fabric.  Turns out that I had ordered the red that I loved but didn't really fit my vision.  I',m so glad I did that.  These colours won't really work together without the red.  The other thought I've had is that I'm allowing that woman on The Last Homely House, influence my creativity.

Otherwise, I'm working on the next technique in my book.  I won't be trying to put together a piece with it, as I'm starting to believe she is wanting us to collect all of the small squares or borders we make, and then create an art piece out of everything, towards the end of the book.  I'll  wait and see.  I  will put up a picture of what comes out of each section of the book.

Thank you Beth!

Your mention of the Golden Buffalo slot machine put the idea of playing it in my mind.  I won a nice little jackpot, last evening.

Today was pay day for those of us with Government pensions.  This meant grocery shopping, always a chore, especially as the big grocery store near home has been renovated to create very long aisles, that are a horror to someone with mobility problems.  But we "got'er done".  We were able to stock up on some non-perishable items, and a lot of otc  supplements.  I even found a warm cozy sweater for use in the fall.  There are still a couple of errands to run , but we plan to be out and about tomorrow.

Otherwise I'm still busy in the studio ( see other blog).  Not wanting to do too much more walking, maybe I'll spend tonight playing play money poker.  Maybe my luck will hold and I'll win a tournament.

Another weekend over

you’d think since I have retired weekends wouldn’t mean much but they still do. Yesterday we met Kris, Sandi and Chloe at spruce woods. They were camping there and we went there for the day. Had a really good time. I ended up at the beach without my hat, bathing suit or towel but played anyway. Jim has gone back to get a park pass and all my stuff was in the car. When he came back he left the car in a parking lot near their campsite and walked to the beach. By then I had been sitting on the wet sand making holes full of “muck”. It turns out Auntie Kik is a very good hole digger and I am very good at mixing the sand and water in the hole and making muck. We met with chloe’s approval. After lunch (Kris made some really good kabobs!) we walked over to the interpretive centre and dug for “artifacts” in the sand. And fondled furs and they even took the green snake out of his cage so we could touch him. Jim hung in the whole day but he was pretty beat by the time we got home. He has been feeling so much better this last week. Maybe he is finally recovering. Today was cool and windy. I took advantage of the lack of heat and did some yard work. Tomorrow should be cooler too so I can continue. The rest of the week is going to be hot again. I think I will do some inside cleaning too while it is cooler. It gets so hot in the house even when I close all the windows and blinds early. Jim is watching Dirty Dancing but since I think I have it memorized I am going to go to bed and curl up with a book that I have read before. That way I don’t have to concentrate on it😜

Aphids

David spent a few hours with his power washer and only water, hosing down the outdoor furniture and the patio.  He was absolutely filthy!  Then we had to push the water down the driveway to get it way from the house.  ( Not that you would know anything about that , Beth!)  There is a big improvement in everything, but you still can't see the different colours in the patio bricks.

wet hearing aids

Once, with my first hearing aid, it stopped working and I took it in, only to be told that it had moisture in it.  They sent it away for some sort of treatment--not guaranteed to work, and it came back working just fine.  But, you're right--moisture inside is not good for them.

My braces are working well.  There has been no knee pain while wearing them for the last three days.  However, the lower leg portion is quite tight, and last night, when I took them off, there was a large ( 1 1/2" by 3/4") blister on my right shin, and a large area covered with either tiny blisters or pimples around my left leg.  Both are diminished this morning, but I'm thinking of giving them a break today.

There was a long article in yesterday's Free Press about the effect of Aphid poop on the city.  Evidently there is a major infestation, and nothing that can be done about it.  The little buggers are targeting  American Elms, so neighbourhoods like River Heights, St James, and Riverview are having major problems.  One can wash it off, that's all that can be done.  Late yesterday David went to Canadian Tire to buy some detergent to use with his power washer, and they were sold out.  Wonder Why?

Since we can't really sit outside anymore, I started working my way through the Maria Shell book.  Worked like a fiend, then realized I was doing it wrong, so dropped everything and went for coffee.  For most of the rest of the day I read the book "Holy Sister" by Mark Lawrence.  This is the last in a three part series that must be read in order--"Red Sister", "Grey Sister", and "Holy Sister".  Now this is going to sound insane, but it's about  a Warrior Nun, on a fantasy planet, that is being slowly frozen under a dying sun. It's fairly brutal, and quite bizarre, but he makes his characters very human in their emotions and relationships.  I had a little trouble getting into the first one, but then couldn't put it down.  Neither could I put down the others.  I have been waiting so impatiently to get this one, and will be very sorry to see it end--which should be some time this morning, as I read last night until I couldn't see straight.

Today it's back to the studio, although there will be time for coffee and sorting out my shopping list and bills, getting ready for pay day tomorrow.

Ask, and ye shall have.....

RAIN!  And it came down heavy but not for long. It was a thunderstorm that came through last evening - very loud, but also very wet! Thank goodness. But also a bit of a pain to control the water and i was out getting soaked until i could get the drain bypass set up to work. Still i had to pump as well. it was all said and done by midnight. I just had the dog out for his morning event, and all is damp but not overly soaked. The barrels are full.
Yesterday we went out to the lot on Lake Bernard of Harry's cousin - the lot and trailer we check all the time because he lives near Burlington. While I was in North Bay Friday, they dropped in unexpected to see us and Harry was alone - so he said we would visit them Sat. He has a new lady now who I met for first time, and a new trailer ( over the years we have witnessed his fifth wheel deteriorate from weather and lack of attention to point it is now collapsing and rotten.) It was a nice break - I had Bailey in the water for just a bit ( I just rolled my pant legs up to wade in a bit) - he walked in but quickly ran out but I think he liked it and may come to like it more if we continue to take him there?
Today is laundry and vacuuming. I actually got the bird cages cleaned yesterday but now need to complete the vacuuming. At least i will not have to water the garden and yard .....yeah!
Take care. ps I had my hearing aids in when i was out trying to divert the water and they got a bit wet - I dried them off best i could so hope I did not damage them??