Will Work for Fabric

Madison-Bouckville Antique Festival Part II

2011-08-25T08:31:00.002-04:00

One thing that I noticed at the Madison-Bouckville Antique Festival was the vendors selling endless collections of vintage linen. I heart linen! There were vintage pillowcases, tea cloths (you know those tea towels that people bought as souvenirs when travelling or the ones with the calendars on them. Oh you know what I mean and you probably have a few stashed away. Well, they are huge items!!) tablecloths, dresser scarfs, hankies gallore, along with quilts! Raise your hand if you like old quilts. I do especially this one that I spotted in one particular booth. Yoyo's! This quilt contained 7680 yoyo's measure approximately 1 1/4" in diameter. I struck up a conversation with the lady that was selling it. She found it at a Flea Market in Florida. Not only did it contain "7680" yoyo's, it was also heavy to boot! She let me pick up the one side and I cannot imagine sleeping underneath this quilt. I think it was more for display if anything.

Notice the color formation using shirting material. It was the most stunning/intriguing quilt I have ever seen. I wonder how many winters it took to make this one. Each yoyo was then handstitched to the next one. It kind of gave me the idea of making one myself but I'll start with a "doll quilt size" first.

I have more pics to show you from the Festival but in a later post.

And Yet Another Road Trip

2011-08-19T09:15:00.015-04:00

Growing up, one phrase that I heard my Mom say repeatedly was "Close the refrigerator door!" Okay, that was one of many that she used. One that I had in mind was "If you get the opportunity to do something, you do it cause it may never happen again". I did listen to her and most of the time she was right. Aren't all Mothers? So with this phrase in mind, I headed out the door to the "Madison-Bouckville Antique Festival". Why? (Actually, that's what they asked me at the border when I crossed into the USA). Because it antiques and I love anything old/vintage looking!! The Festival itself is over 20 years old and takes place in the village of Bouckville, NY. Basically its fields, and fields of vendors with set-up tents and you walk around trying to take it all in while carrying a bottle of water cause it was hot!! There was everything that you could possibly imagine. For a day and a half, I walked around and tried to take it all in...

Vintage glass.

Row by row of teacups. Do you feel like you're at a teaparty? Church luncheon?

More dishes.

Everytime you turned a corner, there were more vendors, more stuff! It was heaven on earth!

As I mentioned, there was a bit of everything that you could imagine. Can you give me a hand? All in favour, raise your hand! (That's a knee slapper. Hardy har har!)

Vintage fans...heart it!

Another turn around a corner. I can't keep up to it all. Did I mention it was hot! 30 degrees, walking around fields. Lord have Mercy!

Your grandmother's washing machine!

Horse hid covered cabinets! A perfect gift for that "cowboy" on your Christmas list!

An assortment of "Froggies" used in floral arrangements. They're just really neat to look at let alone use.

Vintage sand pails. The smallest one had a price tag of $95.00. I think mine was left out in the rain a few times. If only I had known the value!

Kitchen utensils.

A moosehead. An antique festival/show would not be the same without at least one of these showing up.

Old wooden building blocks.

As you can see, there was something for everyone. Quilts, linen, furniture gallore, pictures, old frames, dishes, dishes and more dishes. I have lots more to show you in a later post. Stay tuned!

More Time Needed!

2011-08-19T08:46:00.003-04:00

One question that I'm frequently asked "Where do you find the time to do everything that you do?" I'll be the first one to admit that my plate is usually full at any given time. I have so many things that I would like to do or needs to get done. The list is long and never ending. I don't do a lot of quilting in the summer, due to the temperature in my studio and I have too many outdoor projects that need attention. Our summer months here in Ontario, Canada is about four months long and goes by quickly every year. This summer I finally got the side garden finished. I hauled wheelbarrels full of mulch for what seems like days and I still have a pile left in the lane way. And of course there is the usual grass to cut, weeds to pull, vegetable garden and flower beds to tend to. Painting is almost done. Just have to paint the front steps and the skirting under the front porch before the end of summer. I'll get that done too! I was able to get all of these tasks done between 12 hour shifts and a lot of early mornings before it got too hot (I hate the heat!! Hate humid weather even more!! Perfect summer weather for me is about 26 degrees with a breeze!) I took a few days off from the yard work to have some fun because you can't work all the time. Ya gotta make time for the fun!! A few road trips were in order. One thing I did get accomplished by setting aside some time (I can do this quite easily after coming off a night shift) was put together the above pictured baby quilt for Neil's niece. It's a pattern by "The Pattern Basket" and I used "Lily & Will II" fabric by Rabbit Hill Designs. And of course, the quilting was done by Tammy Spencer who loves anything by Rabbit Hill Design! I used flannel backing since the winters are very cold in Calgary, Alberta. I hope they like it?

Enjoy your summer! Make time for the things that you enjoy doing! I do!! All the time!
Except vacuuming!! I leave that for rainy days.

Powder Room Breaks in Style

2011-07-31T09:00:00.014-04:00

When on a road trip/travelling, one must consider from time to time that at some point ya gotta stop for a "BR break". Sorry, but stopping at gas stations just doesn't cut it. It's kind of gross and you never really want to touch the knobs, taps, doors etc. (I will confess to being somewhat of a germaphobic!! Big time!!) It's called careful planning and scouting out the next stop. Heck, whenever I'm downtown Ottawa, I always plan my "BR break" to include the above pictured Chateau Laurier. They have the cleanest bathrooms and they also have uniformed doorsmen who actually hold the door and say "Bonjour Madame". That's class! What woman doesn't like having a door opened and having French spoken to them even if it's a short salutation.

On my recent trip to Maine, I travelled along route 302 through New Hampshire and just about choked when I saw this place (plus I also needed to take a BR break!). This is Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods. The original "Y shape" hotel was built in the early 1900's by Joseph Stickney and is considered a National Historic Landmark. Apparently, the place is haunted by Joseph's wife, Carolyn who summered at the hotel. Word is that her ghost haunts the tower suites and she has been known to turn lights off and on. I heart ghosts stories/hauntings!!

Check out the bathroom on the main floor used by guests.

The view from the other side as you walk in.

After having my much needed break, I took some time and walked around this amazing hotel. Look at the scenery!

Golf anyone?

The verandas were endless and actually wrapped around the front of the hotel. On this particular visit, there was a wonderful breeze blowing through and I could have curled up on the wicker furniture and lazed for hours. Oh summer living!

Of course, I had to make a tour of the inside.

Looking out towards the veranda. Couldn't ya just sit for hours here and look at the mountains! Read a good novel, have a cup of tea or a glass of wine or two.

One of the hallways leading to the lobby.

Here is the lobby just as you walk in the front doors.

Now do you understand why I scope out the perfect place to stop, pee and have a look around. This hotel is open to the public for viewing and they actually hold the doors open for you and wish you a "Good Day".

Well, Colour Me Happy!

2011-07-19T15:17:00.014-04:00

It's been a few weeks since I posted anything! Sorry about that! Life gets busy especially during the summer. What have I been doing? Gardening, gardening, weeding, weeding. Where have I been? I took a little road trip to Portland, Maine. Why? Cause I always wanted to go there and see Old Orchard Beach!

I'll show you some brief highlights of the trip. I'm still organizing all my pics that I took along the way. Here is the famous Pier! Lots of people to be found everywhere! There were some people that looked like they had been laying there for weeks or months at a time with an inch thick tan. Seven miles of beach. It's funny how time sits still when sitting on a beach. Or is it that time just doesn't really matter when relaxing period.

The best part of Maine...Lobster rolls!! I took the notion of "googling the best lobster roll in Old Orchard Beach" and it showed "The Brunswick". Perfect! I knew exactly where it was since it was right by the pier and I had walked by it the previous day and didn't realize it carried the title of "The Best Lobster Roll". They weren't kidding! It was heavenly! It was devine! It made my heart sing! It was the very best I have ever tasted along with a cold beer cause it was hot! 36 degrees to be exact! There was a really nice breeze blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean so one really didn't notice or mind the temperature. Hey, I was too busy inhaling my lobster and suds.

I took a "Lighthouse Boat Tour" one evening. Does this picture look familiar to you? It's a famous lighthouse that has been photographed and painted for years. This lighthouse is found on Cape Elizabeth. Sorry, but the pic is a little jiggly. I was on a boat and it was windy to boot! Plus it was getting cold and I had to move fast.

Pictured on this rock/boulder to the left is a flock of birds but look to the right towards the end is grouping of seals. There had to have been about 30 of them just lazing around watching us go by! This definitely was the highlight of the tour!

So there you have a quick look at my adventure! I will post more pics when I get them organized and put a story together for you. Next posting...where to pee in style! Wait for it!

The Many Faces of Dakoda

2011-06-28T09:22:00.002-04:00

Who likes to share pictures of your beloved pets? Raise your hands. Ya do! So do I! So without further ado, here she is!! Dakoda. In case you haven't been a regular reading of my blog, here is quick recap of Dakoda over the past four years since we adopted her. Dakoda or Koda, came upon us only days after we lost our previous golden. We fell in love with her the moment that we met her and as my friend Colleen says "it would have been wrong to leave her behind". Koda is quite the character and actually in fact is a "drama queen/Henny Penny/the princess" and a few other names which I will not mention when she wants her way. Yes, she is demanding (not later, NOW!) and Lord help you if you leave her behind (she will chew you out)! We have lots of stories about Koda and a few incidences which weren't funny at the time but we do reminisce which results in a good chuckle. I can't imagine our lives without her. I ask Neil from time to time of what he thinks she was like as a puppy (she was 5 years old when we adopted her) but we can only use our imagination to answer this question. We cherish her little quirks, her lovable disposition (she loves to cuddle), and continue to let Koda be who she truly is. A little person in a furry coat of red fur.

I Heart Yard Sales!!

2011-06-14T08:49:00.005-04:00

My favorite day of the week has got to be Saturdays! No doubt about it! Especially during the summer months. One likes to get up early, have a coffee, read the morning paper and then scope out the yard sales advertised and make up a plan of action (a.k.a. google map). I love yard sales! I love it!! Loveitloveitloveitloveit!! This is exactly what I did this past Saturday cause I was off and Neil was at the cottage (please keep in mind that Neil likes yard sales as much as I do but he kind of peters out after a while. He is more than patient with me but he doesn't have the zest like I do). I mapped out my route. Yes there were quite a few yard sales and garbage, I mean garage sales. Sometimes you find nothing and then sometimes it's "jackpot", "paydirt"! I hit "jackpot" a few times. Did I tell you how much I love yard sales! Most of the decor in my house comes from yard sales and I'm proud to say so! I like to think that I'm recycling and reusing, no longer needed items.

Saturday specials...twig flower pot holder Free!!!, rose cookie tin $.50, bouquet of roses picture $2.00, metal cake stand $1.00 (the rust was included for this low, low price) and the cute little tea pot $.50! I was over the moon with my purchases!! You never know what you will find unless you stop and take a look.

Random Thoughts

2011-06-05T18:24:00.010-04:00

I downloaded the pictures that I had on my camera. It was time since there was a pile building up and I like to keep things neat/tidy/organized. These pics are basically "random" and really only have a quick blurb to say about them. Basically, "show n' tell" will take place in this post. Above pic, "bleeding hearts". With all the rain we have had lately, everything is lush and green. Here is the proof if you haven't noticed when you're out and about.

Here's Dakoda doing her favorite thing. She loves playing fetch and the frisbee picture is her absolutely favorite toy in the world! Did I mention that she likes to play fetch? It's endless! From dusk to dawn, it's her favorite thing to do.

Got extra plates piling up in the cupboard that really don't belong to any setting in particular? Head down to the Dollarstore and pick up some "plate hangers". I look at this bare wall at the back of the mudroom while I'm doing the dishes. It needed something. I needed something to look at and then I got this big idea. Total cost for this look...$8.00 plus tax. Don't have enough plates or don't want to break up the set that your Cousin Patty gave you for a shower or Christmas gift? Hang them up! It's the "in thing" right now in home decor. I just took it outside.

My good friend and neighbor, Linda Potter made this elegant bag for display at the "Brockville Art Center". The colours are much richer in person. Isn't it elegant? Wouldn't ya just want one for yourself? I tried walking home with it but Linda notices these things.

She also made this bracelet. Linda does the most incredible beed and needlework. She truly is an inspiration! She let me try on this bracelet. I felt like Cleopatra!! It was heavenly but I had to give it back. Linda said so. She notices these things.

I'm the first to admit that I liked all the rain we had for the first five days. And then I had enough and wished that it would stop. But what I got in the end was lush ferns at the front of the house. I admire them everyday!

Here she is again. She is so cute, she can't help it!! Still playing fetch in this pic. Glad Neil has a strong arm cause it just might fall off from all the pitching involved when playing with Dakoda.

So there you have it. Random thoughts of a few pics from my camera. Aren't you glad you logged on to my blog? You just might have missed out on something very special or important.

Thanks for joining me in my photo journal.

$13.99 Plus Tax

2011-05-24T06:11:00.002-04:00

Many years ago, I purchased this basin. I got it cheap. Real cheap. Many years ago. Did I mention that already? I've used it to display folded up towels with pretty soaps in the bathroom. That's pretty much the use that I got out of it. I never once used it to serve pasta or a salad. It would have worked well but I didn't do it. Not once. Ever. Honest. But the past many years (fifteen or more) it has been tucked away waiting for its next purpose in life. A few times it did cross my mind to give it away but I never did. I held on to it. However, I got an idea. There is nothing like snooping around a garden centre on a Saturday morning. I just love looking and getting more ideas. And I did...

See my basin's next purpose in life? I saw these stands at the garden centre and thought "Hey, I can do something with this!" and immediately came up with "bird bath". So there you have it folks. A bird bath for the grand total of $13.99 plus tax. I'm not sure if anyone has used it yet. It doesn't matter cause it looks pretty next in my flowerbed.

On the First Day of Reno...

2011-05-11T11:01:00.006-04:00

On the first day of reno, my true love gave to me...a crow bar and stud finder (giggle, giggle). In case you were wondering, it finds studs in the wall not these kinds of studs...

Oh George. Where have you been?

Alec Baldwin then, not now. But he was pretty good in "It's Complicated"? Wouldn't ya say?

Oh Harrison. Same goes for you. You were really looking like an "old geezer" in "Morning Glory". But not in "Indiana Jones". Gracious!! Mercy!!

Okay, back to the renovations. I'm working through another "Ugly Room Makeover" in the house. Next is the spare bedroom. It has so much potential!! I really needed to think this one through. And did I ever think about it. All winters worth! That's what I do on my commute to work. I think! And think! A lot of the times, my ideas come in the middle of the night and then I can't get back to sleep because it's hard for me to shut it down.

See what I mean (minus the junk). The ceiling has this "butt ugly" office tile. Grody! It was a handy man special.

So, this morning I tore out the ceiling using my crow bar and remove about a million staples that held the tiles up with a pair of needle nose pliers. God, I love ripping things apart. It has got to be one of many favorite things to do. When it comes to renovations, I do the thinking/planning/prep work and then Neil helps me with the building stuff cause he's the man with the tools (snicker, snicker). He has a garage full of every tool that you could ever want or need. Also, he's pretty handy to have around. Next step is to do some measuring and make a trip to a sawmill for some cedar. That's all I'm going to tell you. You're just going to have to wait until I post another updated pic.

Twenty??

2011-05-05T09:40:00.007-04:00

Twenty you ask? What's all the fuss about twenty? No, it's not my age. No, I haven't reached my goal of losing 20 lbs. Actually, truth to be told I'm down about 10 lbs. but have another 10 lbs. to go in my mind. If you know me well enough, you will recognize that I do like to ask a lot of questions during conversations especially if I haven't seen you in a while. (Ask Neil. He'll sometimes as a joke count off the questions that I'm asking him and then shuts me down when I get closer to only a few left. I will then hear him say, "That's it!! No more questions. Time's up!! He's no fun!!)

Back to the theme of "Twenty". Well there are a few "twenties" happening this year. First one is that I have had over "20,000 hits" to my blog! Thank you so much. I am very humbled and appreciate your comments and hopefully have entertained/informed you in some way with the use of my blog. Or, just keeping you posted on the latest happenings in my little world in Brockville, Ontario.

More "twenty" reasons...

Back in January, I was purging/cleaning my studio and came across a handwritten receipt for a quilting class that I took "twenty years ago". My very first quilting class ever! It was a Lone Star quilt top. The block pieces were cut big for easy piecing. I recall that I had to get "pexiglass" from the local hardware store and have them cut templates for cutting and marking. There were no Omnigrid rulers or mats in those days! I also had to walk five miles, both ways, knee deep in snow, lugging my Pfaff sewing machine to attend this quilting class!! (Okay, that part was a "down right lie" but it sounded pretty good!) I made the Lone Star into a wall hanging and my Mother still owns it!! How's that!!

Because I have been quilting for twenty years now, I am going to have my first ever "giveaway" on my blog for all my regular readers to participate in. There are a few "contest rules/requests":

1. Reply with a comment by answering the following question:

"How many years have you been quilting?" or answer this one "What is your favorite TV program that you cannot miss"? I do have readers who are not quilters and I want to be fair to everyone who would like to enter.
2. After making a comment, could you please post on your blog my "twenty" themed giveaway!

Thank you!!

In "twenty" days time (May 25th), I will take all the names entered and pull out a winner. The winner will be posted on my blog and will receive a "surprise" from me, in the mail or if you live locally it will be hand delivered. It will include a "quilted article" of something, a couple of fat quarters, some trinkets and depending on where you live, like far away/across the big lake, I will include something "Canadian". Either way, your prize will be well worth your effort and custom fitted to the winner. It just might "tickle you pink".

So, pass along/get the word out/do tell all your quilting friends/non-quilting friends/the milkman/the postman (you get the idea) about my "first ever contest" on "Working For Fabric".
Would it kill ya to leave a comment? Not this time! Good Luck to all who enter.

Oops, I Did It Again...

2011-05-03T08:56:00.002-04:00

If you are one of my regular readers, you will recall that for the past several months I have been following the "Twelve Step Program to Fabric Addiction". It has been a guide for my addiction/compulsion of purchasing copious amounts of fabric that I know I will never use in this lifetime. The program recognizes the following:
1) admitting that one cannot control one's addiction/compulsion
2) recognizing a higher power that can give strength
3) examing past errors with the help of a sponsor (like another quilter to take over my stash)
4) making amends for these errors (my credit card can attest to this)
5) learning to live a new life with a new code of behavior (huh??)
6) helping others who suffer from the same addictions/complusions (you know who you are!!)

Things had been going well. No internet searches. No road trips to area quilt shops. Learning to say "Oh, no thank you. I have enough fabric". I was becoming more confident and determined to kick my addiction until we made a trip home for Easter. I knew well ahead in advance that we would be driving past a particular quilt shop outside of Elmira known as the "Quilter's Nine Patch". Lord have mercy!! How can you turn a blind eye? Yes, it's true. I fell off the wagon but I had a mission in mind. You see, they have the very best selection of Amy Butler fabrics that anyone has ever seen. They not only carry her current line, they also have her previous one! I couldn't help myself. Neil was of no help. He just dropped me off at the front door and said "Take your time. There's no need in hurrying. We have all afternoon"!! (Yes, it's true. He did actually say that!!) I was in the shop for so long that he fell asleep in the car. Well actually truth be told, we had left Brockville at 7 a.m. and Neil really isn't used to getting up that early in the day especially on a Saturday morning. So, if you look at the pic above, you will see what came home with me. I do have a quilt in mind and I'm really excited to get working on it. I'll keep you posted cause it's a really "groovy quilt"!

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-30T09:26:00.008-04:00

Did you get up in the wee hours to catch a glimpse of the Royal Wedding? Were you sitting around in your pajamas drinking tea with tea biscuits and Devon creme? Perhaps you were wearing your tiara and kitten heel slippers? Fortunately for me, I was working the night shift and was able to sneak a peak throughout the night in between patient care. (Gotta love shift work!!) I would have gotten up regardless of the time because there was no way I was going to miss the Wedding of the Century! I had a check list of things that I wanted to see...
the fashion, the 800,00 flag-flapping well-wishers on the streets of Central London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, trees and all and of course Kate's dress. It was elegant in the tradition of Queen Victoria. Did you know that the lace applique was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework. Apparently a team of workers had to wash their hands every 30 minutes to keep the lace and threads pristine, and the needles were renewed every three hours to ensure they remained sharp and clean. A bit of trivia for ya!

Another thing that I've enjoyed perusing on the internet is the memorabilia that has been floating around for months or even the past year or two. There's the traditional mug. Classic. Everyone can use another mug!

But I love this!! (giggle, giggle) You can have the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge soak in your cup of tea!! Gotta get me one!

Or this plate. (More giggling required!!) Love it! How many young ladies went out and purchased this one?

Either way, the event was the perfect way for the entire world to come together and celebrate a Royal Wedding. I'm glad it wasn't me! There is absolutely no way I could have pulled this one off. I think that it would have required a few "adult beverages" to get through the entire ceremony. But having fighter jets fly overhead would have been a definitely cool moment. I wonder if they know my birthday is coming soon. Please no "46 gun solute", just a few planes flying overhead would suffice.

Four Chairs

2011-04-08T12:42:00.002-04:00

The search is over. Call the dogs off. I found the four chairs (finally!) that I needed for the table. It's been a long time coming and after painting the dining room, it gave me the encouragement and motivation in finding them! To be honest, I came across them by accident.

I had walked downtown in Brockville to do a couple of errands and it was on my return home that I just happened to take a quick dodge into one of the flea markets on the main street. And there they were!! They had previously been painted a lime green colour but that didn't matter. I added a new coat of paint, "roughed" them up by sanding them in various places that would appeared that the paint had worn down that way over time. The end results...love it!!

Next project...another "Ugly Room Renovation" (spare bedroom). Stay tuned. I finally have all the details worked out.

It's Spring. Oh No It's Not!

2011-04-04T10:26:00.008-04:00

It's Spring! No, it's not!

It's Spring!

No, it's not!

It's Spring!

No, it's not!

Dear Old Man Winter,

I'm writing to regretfully inform you that our time together is coming to an end (Dude, did you not notice the calendar. It's April 4th!). We thoroughly enjoyed your visit for the past 5 months but the time has come to bid you farewell. Please take with you the surprising/infrequent snow falls, the cold blowing wind, and the cloudy weather. We are trying to replace you with blue skies, warmer weather so that the spring flowers can bloom (they are desperately trying but your cold weather has dampened their little spirits). You may return in approximately 8 months at which time your visit will be most welcomed and appreciated.

Kindest Regards,

Spring and Summer

Earth Hour Next Weekend!

2011-03-19T17:22:00.003-04:00

On 26th March, 2011 at 8.30pm people from all around the world will be switching off their lights for Earth Hour (8.30 to 9.30 pm in case you weren't sure). Save the date/write it down/circle it on your calendar or just review your recent hydro bill. That'll do it!! Join me and others around the world to be in the dark next Saturday night! Over and out!

Could It Be?

2011-03-16T08:40:00.002-04:00

Have you noticed a change? Stuck your head out the door lately? It's starting to look like Spring! Even the birds are chirping a bit different. I've been thinking about Spring for a few weeks now. I think it started when I purchased the above pictured container of hummus and noticed the word "Summer" (nothing like getting the wheels turning). Keep in mind that I love the winter season but it's time to move on to Spring. Change is always good for the soul. With that in mind, time to start thinking Easter (chocolate!!), spring flowers (I planted about 50 Daffodils last fall. Can't recall exactly where but maybe the squirrels remembered), opening windows and firing up the barbeque. I'm hoping that if this weather continues, I can soon get my bicycle out. I've already started a list of "challenges" of where I would like to cycle this year. By the way, in case you were wondering, the hummus was excellent. I usually make my own but I couldn't resist this one since it contained "eggplant". Delish!!

Got Leftovers?

2011-03-02T09:54:00.002-05:00

Got any leftovers? No, I'm not talking about Sunday night dinner with the whole family and the minister's brother. I'm talking about leftover blocks and fabric.

I finally got Neil's quilt done but there were a couple of blocks that he particularly wasn't too keen about. "They're pink", he exclaimed! "I don't want a quilt with girlie colours in it". Oh Neil, what would the guys at the office think or even your hockey team mates. You could become an outcast! Alright, alright! I eliminated them and replaced them with "blue" blocks. However, what does one do with the "rejects"?...Put them on the back! I then got another idea with the leftover batik plus I had another stack from a previous quilt that I made a few years ago. (I'm on a reduce and reuse circuit these days!!) I cut up the access into 5" squares and started sewing them back together for the backing. Sounds like a great idea. Right? Wrong! I spent yesterday afternoon cutting & sewing and I'm only half way there!! But at least the pile of batik fabric has diminished. I told/instructed myself that I wasn't permitted to start a new project until the backing was done. I'm determined! Neil will be relieved since it has been over a year and a half wait for his quilt. "How come everyone else gets a quilt that's actually finished? When is it going to be my turn"? Poor thing!! Soon Neil. Very soon!

My Favorite Place!

2011-03-01T10:54:00.002-05:00

It will soon be two years that I fixed/completed this corner of the kitchen. Do you recall? There used to be a "butt ugly" bench that I vowed to tear out when I put down a new kitchen floor. However, this "butt ugly" bench was hiding heating duct work and I had to great creative to hide is once and for all. Ringing any bells? Before closing and sealing up the corner, I put a "time capsule" in the wall. Sound familiar? How could you have forgotten? However, what has transpired in that little corner of the kitchen is my favorite place to be in the whole wide world. This little corner of the world now houses a funky chair where I read my daily newspaper, drink coffee/wine (depending on the time of day. Hey, it's wine time some place in the world!!), do some stitching and more reading. Did I mention that it's also in the corner of the kitchen. Right by the refrigerator/cupboards. Another favorite place of mine! Have you not seen my hips and thighs?
This is my world as you see it! Actually, there usually is a struggle between Neil and I of who gets the chair first. I being the gracious host, usually gives in first, most of the time. You see, the chair has a built in foot rest and it's heaven!! So, early in the morning or after a long day of "saving lives and stomping out disease", you will find me here! Wearing my pajamas and reading the daily news. Life is good! I wouldn't have it any other way!

Who Knew?

2011-02-10T12:16:00.005-05:00

A few weeks ago, I received an email inviting me to participate in a "Mug Rug Swap". Glad that the email included "a tutorial" since I really wasn't too sure what a mug rug was and it's purpose. Yes, I know I have been out of the loop for a while but everyday is a school day.

For the swap, you had to make 2 rugs (I guess "his n' hers" or for "you and a friend" that just happen to drop by for coffee/tea) measuring 10" x 6". How hard could that be! And I have lots of fabric to pass around.

Plus, I was able to do some machine quilting. Cause I have lots of thread to pass around.

Here's what you do with it when you're finished quilting and binding! You sit down and enjoy a cup of tea and have right out of the oven "Chai Gingerbread Squares".

Or the rug is big enough for a bowl of "Beef Barley Mushroom" soup. Why am I so keen and ambitious this morning? Because The City of Brockville decided to start clearing the snow banks in my neighbourhood at 0430 this morning. So with lights flashing throughout the house, I got up, went for a run and then came home, read the paper with a coffee in hand and then started cooking/baking. Does the kitchen ever smell nice! There is nothing like a hot bowl of homemade soup on a cold Wintery Canadian Day in the City of Brockville during the month of February. I will be mailing my "Mug Rugs" to someone located in the Northern Hemisphere. Shhhh!! It's a secret swap!

There is Something to Be Said...

2011-02-02T12:00:00.003-05:00

There is something to be said about a cold, stormy February day, wearing flannel pajamas (cause according to the local radio station I'm suppose to stay at home and not leave the house. Perfect! I'll do just that and stay in my flannels all day! Won't Neil be surprised!)

Wearing "kitten heeled slippers". What? You don't believe that I own these? Pppfft! I vacuum in them! I wear them while scrubbing the bathtub. Why do you ask?

I think that it should be a rule of quilting that during the month of February, one must work on something using red/pink fabric. I'm busy putting together the blocks for the Crabapple Hill "Winter Wonderland" quilt. Actually it go me thinking about Valentine's Day. Oh, I've already started with the "drop dead hints" to Neil. Actually, he's off the hook for the 14th since I'm working the night shift. Instead, I've given him the "it's okay to save your money on flowers/chocolates (please, not the 10 lb. bag of chocolate covered almonds from Costco, cause I can't stop at one handful even though I keep them well hidden in the freezer)/card/dinner out until after Valentine's". Preferably nothing "gently used". Actually, I work with a nurse who tells the story of the year her husband gave her roses for Valentine's Day. You're thinking "That's nice. What's wrong with that?" Truth be told...she later found out that her husband had completely forgotten what day it was and was reminded by the hairdresser while getting his hair cut. He knew it was too late to get flowers so the hairdresser offered a bouquet that had been delivered to the shop by an ex-boyfriend that she no longer cared for. So he "regifted them". True story! I could never come up with something like this! Enjoy your wintery day wherever you are. Remember to dress appropriately!

Winter Woolies

2011-02-01T09:44:00.005-05:00

In Ontario, and most of the surrounding areas, we just went through a "deep freeze". Baby it was cold outside! But of course, Neil and I braced the weather and went skiing in Sutton, Quebec. In preparation for the trip, I packed every piece of warm underwear/socks that I own for the - 25 temperature at the bottom of the hill and the - 32 temperature at the top of the hill. We prevailed. We conquered. We almost lost our appendages to frost bite. ("Our assets are frozen" - name that movie). I've come to a whole new appreciation for wool! Don't leave home without it!

On the drive home and warming up my posterior with heated seats, I started planning in my little mind the recent purchased wool kit "Purple Coneflower Penny Rug" from "WoolyLady".

(Do you now understand how my mind wonders from one moment to the next? Don't worry if you don't. Neil still has trouble keeping up! It just works that way. I don't know how or why. It just does. Go with it!)
So the last couple of days, I have been bundled up by the fire and working on my wool penny rug. There is nothing like being at home, hand stitching on a cold winter's day with no place to go and not wanting to leave the house especially at night. I love our Canadian Winters!

Acceptable Canadian Currency

2011-01-20T15:13:00.008-05:00

If you live in Canada, you will recognize the above pictured currency known as "Canadian Tire Money". For my US neighbours and other folks who browse my blog on the occasion, an explanation is required. Canadian Tire Money is really coupons, issued by the Canadian Tire Store company, which resembles real currency, and can be used in their stores. For the past several months, I have been saving my CTM that I received for gas fillups used for my commute to work. I love coupons and I love getting something for my money, especially when it comes to petroleum. Don't get me start on the price of gas these days. I will ignore that thought for a moment. Back to my story...I had a purpose for my growing stack of CTM. I had a mission in mind for quite some time. But I was waiting for the right moment. Paint Sale!
This is a pic of my newly painted Dining Room! Yes, I did it all by myself. Two hands and three days labour but it's finished and I did it! What did it look like before? Not hard to imagine. The walls were an off-white colour with sheers on the windows. I never really liked this room because it always felt cold to me. As well, because of the openness of the main floor in the house, I needed to come up with colours that flowed from one room to the next. I think that I have accomplished that goal. Here is the surprising part...cost!

Paint, paint supplies, new outlets and plates for switches...$26.61 (using $14.45 in CTM and the paint was on sale for $10 off a can). Area rug from Lowe's (okay, I have to give Neil credit here since he spotted it and the price was right...reduced to clear and there was only one left and it had my name on it! It would have been wrong to leave it behind)...$73.40 (regular price $168) Grand total...$100.01 spent and I ended up with a totally different looking Dining Room that I now just love! Hey "Extreme Make Over"!! Beat that!! Okay, I know I went 1 cent over budget but who's counting!! Next mission...to find press back chairs for around the table. I think that this is another reason why I don't use this room very often cause there is no place to sit.

New Years Resolution?

2011-01-03T08:27:00.002-05:00

Do you make "New Years Resolutions"? I used to. Not anymore! Never been able to keep them for any longer than a week or two. Usually the novelty wears off and then I completely forget about them. Rather than making a "resolution", I prefer "needs improvement" (Sounds like something that was mentioned on my report card along with "keen but talks too much"! Whatever!!) My improvement for 2011...read more books! I have a stack of books that doesn't resemble this pile pictured above but a pile does exist beside my bed. It happens to all of us. We get busy doing other stuff and there doesn't seem to be enough time. Oh sure, I can read before going to bed but this only last about 2 pages and then I'm out for the count. I read a lot starting with the daily newspaper which is part of my morning routine. I live for this moment!
I came up with this great "resolution" of taking time out of my day about a week ago before the New Year actually rang in to sit and enjoy reading again. I'm just about half way through "The Secret Daughter". My plan/goal is to read at least one book a month. I think I can!

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2011!

"My" All Time Favorite Christmas Movies

2010-12-20T10:57:00.008-05:00

Once the beginning of December rolls around, it's time (in my little mind) to start watching Christmas movies. The first one that I start out with is "Family Stone" which is definitely at the top of "My All Time Favorite List". Sorry, but it beats "Love Actually" hands down (in my little mind). Yes, I know it's a real toss-up...Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson and Colin Firth but come on, who cannot resist Dermot Mulroney. Do you remember him in "The Wedding Date"? Oh my!! Suit and all! As well, there is Craig T. Nelson, Diane Keaton (classy actress), Sarah Jessica Parker (after a while, you start to feel sorry for her as she gets herself in deeper and deeper with Everett's family), Rachel McAdams (cause she's Canadian and cute as can be! Remember her in "The Notebook"?) Okay, next...

No introductions/explanations required here because it has been around since 1947! This is one movie that I remember vividly as a kid growing up on the farm, sitting around the old "black n' white" tv wearing our pajamas. It will always remain on my "All Time Fav List"! Next...

Cause it's Jim Carrey (another Canadian) and it was directed by Ron Howard (remember Ritchie Cunningham from Happy Days?). Every time I watch it, I see something different since there is so much detail in every scene. As well, wouldn't you say that Martha May had the "hottest outfits"! Gosh, she even sleeps in pearls! As well, who wouldn't want to walk around with a "cup of eggnog" on their head?? I would if I could. Next...

Yet, another classic this time involving "The Muppets" and Michael Caine, an all time favorite actor of mine! (Remember Michael in "Cider House Rules"? The very best!) Here is another movie that I see some thing different every time I watch it.
And Kermit the Frog as "Bob Cratchit" and his wife "Mrs. Cratchit" (Miss Piggy). I always have to dab my eyes during the second last scene of the movie. You know, when Scrooge asks about Tiny Tim's future and then you see a vacant cane by the fireplace. Gets me every time. "Bah, humbug".

And finally, last but not least, "The Sound of Music". Okay, this really isn't a Christmas movie but I do save it for the New Year Year or Day (if I'm not working). I never really noticed/took interest in this movie as a kid growing up because it involved the uniting of Nazi Germany with Austria which I really wasn't familiar with and I didn't appreciate war films. It wasn't until I was much older in life that I came to understand "Maria" and her relationship with the von Trapp family. Can you name all seven children from the oldest to the youngest? I would have to "google" that answer.

I just remembered a couple more Holiday Classics that are in my collection..."White Christmas" and "Charlie Brown's Christmas". Definitely no explanation required here.

So there you have it...my list of favorite Christmas movies. You can agree or disagree with me. It doesn't really matter all the much. It's more personal preferences.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas!

"A Round Tuit"...

2010-12-17T10:39:00.002-05:00

How many times have we used these phrases? "Oh, when I get a round to it" or "Some of these days..." Too many! All the time! For the past couple of weeks, I have been working on my "round to it" or "someday" list. One thing that I have been doing is getting all of my work done in the morning, you know, vacuuming/laundry/cleaning, and then walking downtown in the afternoon. One of the advantages of living close to downtown Brockville is the use of the walking paths that will lead you along the waterfront and eventually take you from one side of town to the other if you really wanted to. Yesterday, I headed out with the intentions of mailing my Christmas parcels home (done), some window shopping (done). Keep in mind that when you are walking and you do happen to make a purchase, you have to carry it home with you. One thing that has been on my "when I get a round to it" list is to stop in Tait's Bakery for a cup of tea and a Christmas cookie. I had carefully planned out this excursion before leaving home and brought along my IPod and listened to "A Christmas Carol". See Tait's is the perfect place to listen to an old classic by Charles Dickens with the original tin ceilings/counter tops. I love taking in the hustle and bustle of shoppers choosing and buying their bread and baked items. It's the perfect place to people watch which is another favorite past time of mine.

Help Me Rhonda!

2010-12-07T08:34:00.003-05:00

Here's the thing. I'm being totally honest with you. I haven't set one foot in my studio in days, or weeks, or a few months. (Insert gasps/tsk,tsk/horror here!) As well, I haven't set one foot in a fabric shop! (Insert more gasps/tsk,tsk/horror here!) Normally, I like to venture out and check out what is new in our local quilt shops. I just didn't do it! I have a few good reasons why and excuses to throw at you. If you follow my blog, you will have read that my summer was pretty busy with painting/planting/digging/riding my motorcycle (Yes, I have a motorcycle. Why do you ask?) Fall came along and I took full advantage of the weather with more painting and riding my motorcycle, plus I tore up the flooring in the mudroom and stripped the wallpaper. Now that the cold weather is starting to settle in and my bike has been stored away for the winter, I finally found some time to rummage around in my studio. I started pulling fabric out for a class that I'm teaching at Taylor's in the Spring. Looking at the pic above, and asking myself "Do I really need any more fabric"? With sincere honesty, the answer is "No"! It doesn't look like much but the stack of fat quarters is two rows deep. Below these shelves are all my larger cuts for borders/sashing/binding. Neil saw my stash once. I mean only once. He's not allowed in my studio since the incident involving my sewing scissors and a bag of salt that he used my scissors to cut open with. He's lucky to be alive! So, with a new project in mind, I now have found a purpose for about 10 fat quarters!! Only 190 or more to go!

Collector and Collections

2010-11-30T13:02:00.003-05:00

As previously mentioned in an early posting, I have a "snowglobe collection". It actually started rather innocently, with no real intention, I think. It just came about and grew from there. Each year there is always the search for the next "perfect" globe to add to the collection. It has to have the right theme/feel/colour. Not just any old globe will suffice. Some of my globes play music and others are silent. That's okay. It's not a requirement in the selection process. However, it is nice to stop, turn the knob, shake them around a bit and watch the "miniature snow storm" when you're walking by. (Believe me, it doesn't take much to amuse me!!)

This is the latest find that I added to the collection. You will recall that I found it on the 9th Floor at Macy's Department Store on our recent return trip to New York City. Did you notice that it's a "Jim Shore". (If you're not sure what I referring to, "google" Jim Shore and you will find out). I'm quite thrilled with this find. Did I also mention that I have a "snowman collection", a "purse collection", a "fabric collection" (it's called a stash), a "thread collection", a "scarf/glove collection (this is more of a fettish than collection). Oh the list is endless but it makes life interesting and shopping a bit more enjoyable when there is a purpose.

Return Trip to New York City

2010-11-22T10:05:00.011-05:00

This past weekend, Neil and I made a return visit to New York City with "Bruce Wylie's New York City" tours. Really, it's the best way to see New York by going along with Bruce and his wife Ilene since they have been there like a million times or more! Also its a great way to meet other people from the surrounding area who are travelling in your group. Some are going just to get a head start on their Christmas shopping. Most of the ladies had teenaged children and wanted to find something different or just to shop in a store that we don't have here in Brockville, or Ontario, or in Canada. As well, I like to see what people spend their money on (it's a little hobby of mine!) Please keep in mind I am not a shopper and most of the stores that these ladies went to, I have never heard of or even had a clue of what it was. I observed the bags that were being lugged onto the bus and I asked a lot of questions which ended up being a very educational weekend for me!

One store that I know for sure is Macy's on 34th Street. It was on my list of places to go back to since the first trip to New York City last year, Neil and I had limited time and we made a quick dash through the departments. This time we rode the original escalators up to every floor and had a good look around.

When you walk through the main entrance of Macy's, this is what you see! It definitely looks like Christmas here.

Up on the 9th floor, it looked like someone "barfed Christmas"!! It was so overwhelming with all the decorated themed trees! It was crazy! They had everything you could ever imagine to decorate your Christmas tree with. I however was on a mission to find a "snowglobe" purchased from Macy's. Not just any old snowglobe. It had to be the right one to add to my growing collection. (I'll post later about my collection. I haven't unpacked them yet but very soon!) After I examined and contemplated, (thank goodness Neil is very patient and understanding when it comes to making a very serious and yet an important decision like this!) After about 5 loops around the Christmas department, I found a "Jim Shore" snowglobe with a Santa on the roof top getting ready to go down the chimney. It was unique, a perfect match, and also because I'm a quilter and know of Jim Shore's work.

Saturday morning was spent walking through Lower Manhattan, taking the Staten Island Fery, more walking along the pier, a bit of shopping/bartering. I scored a couple of "Prada Knock Off" purses (like really, would anyone actually know for sure!!), a Tiffany bracelet (another knock off. No one knows.) and a Pashmina scarf (not really a knock off but close to it). Oh, did I mention that I also have a collection of scarfs. If you know me or have seen me out and about in Brockville, I can be found sporting a scarf from my ever growing collection! Oh, and gloves! Gotta have them too! Plus shoes, purses, etc., etc. Pictured above is the latest developments at "Ground Zero" and the rebuilding of the World Trade building.

As I mentioned earlier, I am not a shopper. Neil is! He is the kind of guy that any woman would want to take along with them while shopping since he finds the best deals/prices, will offer his honest opinion as to whether or not it looks good on you (or makes your butt look big!!) and carries your bags for you too!! He's good that way! We headed to a store called "Century 21". Once again, I had to asked what it was since here in Canada "Century 21" is a real estate company. It was a department store, filled with tonnes of bargains. Neil was in his glory. I however lasted 15 minutes. I hate crowds! I hate rummaging through racks to find the best deal! Neil went off searching through the Men's Department. I myself plunked myself below the huge clock on the back wall of the department store so that Neil could find me when he was finished with his rummaging. He scored a "down-filled" coat for $80. Regular price $275. It's perfect for walking Dakoda and walking to work in the winter months downtown Ottawa and it doesn't make his butt look big! I picked out for him the absolute perfect pair of functional gloves that matches his coat beautifully! We then headed to "Little Italy" and found a cafe and had the best Cannoli I have ever had! (An educational moment here; cannoli is a tube-shaped shell of fried pastry dough (zero calories!), filled with a sweet, creamy filling usually containing ricotta cheese (once again, zero calories!) It was absolutely delicious with the cappuccino and it was also the perfect way to spend some time in New York City and "people watching" (another hobby of mine! If you know me, you know that I don't miss a thing or detail!) We took the subway back to Time Square, had dinner and then off to the see "Rock of Ages" on Broadway (we highly recommend this performance if you lived through the 80's!) It was another amazing, return trip weekend in the Big Apple! A big thanks to Bruce and Ilene Wylie!!

"The Amazing Race" Tryouts

2010-11-16T16:03:00.009-05:00

Being a shift worker, I don't have a lot of weekends off so it kind of limits time for Neil and I to spend some quality time together. Whenever I do have a Saturday/Sunday or both off, I try to find something for us to do together. This past weekend, I was going to be off on Saturday and started combing the newspapers for what was happening in our area. I wouldn't want to miss out on anything especially this time of year when it's starting to look like Christmas with lots of craft shows/bazaars and because I like to dragging Neil along. By his heels! Against his free will! It strengthens our relationship!! My conversation with Neil started out like this..."The weather is suppose to be nice on Saturday. We could go for a drive to the Pakenham area (Keep in mind Neil likes to drive. I'm starting to work on him. I better start making this sound like a good idea.) and we can enjoy the scenery and stop and have a nice lunch along the way." Neil's response "Okay??" (Which really means, I'm listening and I'm starting to get nervous because she's been thinking again. He's looking a bit skeptical. I might as well put it out there.) "While we're there, we could go to the Christmas Craft Show. You never know what you just might find." Neil is now thinking "Oh Lord, I can just imagine how many more ideas she's got juggling in her mind at this moment and it's involving me." Final response from Neil after a moment of hesitation, "I don't think so!" Well that idea just "crashed and burned". Nice try! Let's try another idea. "The weather is suppose to be nice on Saturday. Do you want to go and try out that Aerial Adventure that we've heard so much about?" I have a couple of friends who recently went and gave it rave reviews. Neil's response "That could be fun. Lets look into it." Well, a half hour later we were booked for Saturday at 1 p.m. Basically it's an outdoor adventure obstacle course up in trees through different suspended bridges and zip lines.

After being strapped in a harness with clips, we got an orientation from one of the guides. Off we went in a group of about 30 people.

Basically, there are a total of four courses and you start out at the beginner stage and work your way to the advance levels. At first, I didn't know if I could do it or not since I have a slight fear of heights. Okay, that's an understatement. I have a huge fear of heights! But after a while, you were so focused on the obstacles/bridges, you kind of forgot how high up you actually where. It reminded me of a task on "The Amazing Race" and we didn't want to be the last team to arrive and be eliminated.

Everyone in the group went along at their own pace. No pressure here!! I thought it would be a great place to take a "first date". Nothing like seeing someone crack under pressure. You would get to know someone real quick! It would certainly determine if there was going to be a "second date" or not. After a while, I was starting to crack. The sun was starting to go down and we still had two more courses to go through. At the end of each leg, you took a "zip line" to the end of the course. We were up 30-50 feet in places and there were times I thought I was going to cry. There were also times that I wanted my Mom!

We finally got through the third section of the course and the guide asked us if we were going to finish with the fourth leg. I immediately asked "Does it involve that zip line that we saw above us in the parking lot?" The guide responded with "Yep! The entire fourth course is all zip lines!" No way, but Neil went. This is Neil up in the trees. He is unclipping and reclipping to the next section of the zip line.

This is Neil coming out the trees on the zip line above the parking lot that I had mentioned and saw earlier. After going across this line, you unclip and reclip to another zip line that went across a lake. I betcha Neil is wishing that he was at a Christmas Craft Show about right now. I however stayed on solid ground. Someone had to capture the moment on camera!! Overall, it was a great way to challenge yourself. Neil can't believe that he actually took the last zip line which was at least 8 stories high. My palms are sweating just thinking about it! Take a look at the website if you dare! http://www.aventurelafleche.ca/en/lafleche-adventure-aerial-adventure-park

Motivation, Determination and the Reward

2010-11-02T08:55:00.005-04:00

See this house. It's my neighbour's house. During this past summer he repainted the entire outside. With a paint brush, by hand and several cans of paint. How do I know for sure? Cause I watched him while laying on the couch eating bon bons or sitting on the deck with the newspaper in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. Just kidding!! No, I was too busy painting my 70 foot picket fence or digging out another flowerbed. However, watching him gave me the motivation and the determination to finally get the mudroom painted at the back of the house.

I had no excuses other than "when I get around to it". I had been dragging my heels for several years and preferred that visitors used the front door instead the back due to the white peeling paint. It was embarrassing. I never liked it until now. It took me several weeks to get it done since I was dealing with the change in our weather plus tendonitis in my wrists from painting the fence. But it's done and I am so happy! (Please excuse the dead looking basil in the pot off to the left of the pic. It got hit with frost the other night and I haven't dumped it into the compost bin yet. That's on today's list of "things to get done").

My reward for all my hard work, determination and dedication..."Pumpkin Pie Blizzard" from the Dairy Queen!! It's basically a pumpkin pie all smushed up in soft ice cream with whip cream on the top. Calories? I don't know! Grams of fat? Who cares? All I know for sure is that it tastes as good as it looks and well worth the calories!

Look at the generous dusting of nutmeg on the whip cream. Evil but good! However, they're gone! The pumpkin pie blizzard was the flavour of the month for October and won't be back until next year. Approximatley 322 days from now! I can't wait. In the meantime, I will find something else to paint and reward myself with a different flavoured blizzard or bon bons or wine or chocolate. Oh the list of "potential rewards" is never ending.

Photoshop? Huh?

2010-10-24T11:06:00.003-04:00

What is "Photoshop" you ask? Well, the quick and dirty is Photoshop is a professional image editing software package that can be used by experts and novices alike (like me) to make your pictures look so much better! I got the software for my birthday last year (thank you Neil) and had been fiddling with it but needed more knowledge and skill. So yesterday, I took a course in Ottawa and learned all about pixel dimensions, hues, saturation, lightness and the many tools offered with Photoshop Element (cropping, remove red eye, change skin tones, etc.) Mind you, this was the first level of the course and I have along way to go. It all starts with one step and practise, practise, practise.

Please keep in mind that I'm just beginning when you look at the two pictures above. The first one was shot "straight out of the camera" with no editing. The second picture is after I adjusted the hue, saturation and lightness (New words for everyday conversations.) I wanted the overall picture to look dark and dingy cause it's Halloween. I have so much to learn but looking forward to what I can actually do with some of my pictures.

An Eerie Sight

2010-10-22T15:02:00.003-04:00

Down this laneway to the very end, and running along the St. Lawrence River is the Old Protestant Cemetery.

There is absolutely nothing like traipsing through one of Brockville's oldest cemeteries reading headstones and taking in history. Also, it's pretty close to Halloween which makes it even more eerie and spooky to see and do.

Here is another eerie, spooky site!! Rising fuel costs! I can feel the cold chills going down my spine as fill up my gas tank. Mwuah-ha-ha!

Collections

2010-10-15T10:12:00.006-04:00

This past weekend which was Thanksgiving here in Ontario, the weather was absolutely perfect for October! Blue skies and a great excuse to pack up the camera and go for a ride. Actually, I have a photography class next weekend and there's homework involved! I've got to come up with some different pics to "Photoshop". While I was out and about, I happened to come along a fence that had old rusted bicycles lined up as far as the eye could see. Of course, I had to stop and take a picture which kind of lead me down a laneway to a building that was cluttered with "odds n' ends", "stuff", "junk" and lots of it. Piled everywhere. An old gentleman came out of the building and wanted to know if he could sell me something or at least find me something that he could sell me (which ever!!) He had everything that you could imagine plus more! He had collections of golf clubs, dishes, windows, mugs, stoves, pictures, furniture and I'm sure there was a kitchen sink stuffed someplace plus a pile of tossed dolls that required some reassembling or a good scrubbing. It never ended. "Oh, I've got two more barns full of stuff. Is there anything that you are looking for?" Honest to goodness, it would take days to get through everything and a lot of it was covered with tarps. Apparently, his collection of things is left over from previous auction sales. I was kind of tight for time but most certainly will make a trip back. Perhaps set a few hours aside and snoop around. You never know what you might find while you're digging.

My Best Shot!

2010-10-04T10:44:00.006-04:00

Last week here in Brockville plus other areas of Ontario, it poured rain. For days. Lots of rain. We had continuous overcast. It never ended. Rainy days are great for getting work done inside (sewing, reading, snoozing). But when it lasts for a week, I find it a bit difficult to get motivated to do anything. Neil is more than willing to offer advice when this happens..."Why don't you work in your studio today?" I already did. "Go to the Dairy Queen and get yourself some ice cream?" I already did. Pumpkin Pie Blizzard. "Why don't you hop on your motocycle and go for a ride?" (Yes, I ride a motorcycle. Why do you ask?) Now you're thinking Neil!! Better yet, I'll take my camera along and see what I can find. I started out and a made a few stops along the Parkway. I took a few pics but I just didn't have the groove in me. My shots were okay but not thrilling. Boring actually. I was still experiencing the "cloudy overhead" that was still looming above plus I had been battling a head cold! What would make my day? I could always turn around and head back to Brockville and continue along my way to Maitland and loop around. Great idea! Sounds like a plan. But of course, there is always a method to my madness!! If you live in the Brockville area, there is a chip wagon in Maitland that serves the best fresh cut fries in the county! Believe me, I've been to pretty much all of them. Have you not seen my hips and thighs? I inherited them a long time ago and have maintained them well. After eating these fries, I had an all new perspective on life. The skies opened and the clouds parted. The sun shone brighter than it had in the past week or so all because of a little know chip wagon called "The Spud". Life couldn't possibly get any better than this!!

Patiently Waiting...

2010-09-24T12:06:00.004-04:00

It's only been six years since I planted these holly bushes. It has been six years waiting for berries to form. Let me take you back to the very beginning...I purchased two holly bushes, one male and one female. A few years went by and absolutely nothing happened. I thought that perhaps they really didn't like each other and it was going to take a bit more time for them to get used to each other. I talked to them and gave them "positive encouragement" but nothing seemed to work. I finally went back to where I purchased the original bushes to conclude that I was sold (labelled incorrectly) 2 male bushes. I purchased the "missing link/female" and reverted back to my "motivational/yes you can speech" and looked what happened....berries!! Yes!! I was so thrilled that I was jumping for joy and thinking that I really do have a green thumb (a bit of a slow learner but it's there).
Pictured next is Dakoda. She isn't jumping for joy. She has been patiently waiting for what she thinks is approximately six years for her Mom to quit jumping around and take her for a walk. As you know, she's the princess and rules the castle! Obviously she didn't share in my excitement.

Seventy Feet

2010-09-24T11:56:00.003-04:00

Where have I been? What have I been doing? In between building the "Confetti Cake" quilt, I've been busy painting a picket fence that measures 70 feet in length and consisting of 125 pickets (Please note that I cut out every single picket. Hey, if I can cut fabric then surely cutting cedar planks wouldn't be too much of a challenge). Next the painting. Two coats! I thought I would never see the end! But it's now finished and I'm very pleased with the outcome. It was a mindless job which gave me more than enough time to look/reflect over my life about five or six times. But the best part was being outside and people stopping to have a chat while I painted. I got to meet a few more of my neighbours, the mailman, and a couple of tourists stopped seeking directions to the nearest gas station or restaurant. Of course, Dakoda had to come out a few times to see what all the fuss was about.

Doesn't it feel good to accomplish a big job!! I'll say! I feel great!!

Done Like Dinner

2010-09-05T10:25:00.003-04:00

The "Confetti Cake" quilt by "The Pattern Basket" is done/completed/finished just in time for Taylor's Open House here in Brockville. Did you notice the quilting? My friend Tammy Spencer came through again. She works well underpressure and gave me an "overnight express" job! God love her! Hey, there was a lot of piecing with each block but the effort paid off. If you live in the Brockville area, I'm teaching this all day class at Taylor's, November 11th. If you enjoy building an Irish Chain, you will love piecing this beauty!

Reflections

2010-08-31T08:36:00.002-04:00

Change the rules. Keep your eye on the moment. Swing hard, follow through. Learning is a muddy business. Expect to get messy. Lead with your heart. Detours can become main roads. Everyone needs a big eraser. Add relish. Play fair. Sometimes you find buried treasure when you're out looking for worms. There are lots of different ways to get there from here. Recess! A sharp pencil usually helps. You can learn from the stupidest things. How is more important than what. You don't need to buy tools first. Unzip your mind. Belly laugh. If you wait until you're ready, you'll never suit up for the game. Even huge elephants go vast distances one step at a time. Get out of your own way. Wait out the hard rains. Kindness counts. Ready, on your mark, get set, grow. Be thankful! Amen

And let's not forget the most important thing, shaping up applies to your whole life - not just your caboose! Another Amen!

Settling the Score

2010-08-18T09:32:00.005-04:00

Picking up where I last left off in my last posting, I was heading to the nearest Hardware Store to pick up a mouse trap. I picked up a "fancy smancy/the party has ended on King Street/git r done" mouse trap for a mere $6.99 (plus tax, all of them)! The trap has been set and if you are like me, it becomes an obsession of making numerous trips to the furnace room to see if I caught anything. Please note the number to the left as of this morning...six! That's a hockey team including the goalie! I wonder if they are all related? I think that the root cause is that we are heading into an early fall and the word has gotten out amongst the rodent population that they have located a new address for the winter. Not for long, since the "rodent eliminating program" has been implimented on King Street. I'm not sure if I will you keep you posted with the score. But if you would really like to know, email me!

Final Score : Seven!! Nope, it's eight now!!

A Mouse in the House

2010-08-06T08:15:00.002-04:00

I'm pretty sure I have a mouse in the house. I heard something scratching in the wall the other day so I went down to the basement to set a trap. I have no issues with setting a mouse trap. But this mouse (I'm hoping that that is what it is) has been messing with me! Or I should say, that I have been feeding him/her on a healthy diet of peanut butter. I load up the trap and he/she comes along and has a feast and the trap doesn't set off. This exercise has been going on for days now and I'm starting to get frustrated/disappointed in not catching the rodent. So, off to the Hardware Store this morning for a new trap. I'm definitely on a mission cause as the saying goes "When there is one, there is a hundred". Oh boy! Better get a move on!

Cake Anyone?

2010-08-03T09:09:00.002-04:00

Ah cake! Can anyone resist a quilting pattern named "Confetti Cake"? Not I! Just mentioning the word cake/tarts/squares grabs my attention quick and fast. (I think that I'm in withdrawal since it has been too hot to turn the oven on for anything especially baking!) This pattern is by "The Pattern Basket" and it has been on my list of "Quilts to Make" for a few years now. So the time has come, plus I needed to come up with a class to teach this coming fall at Taylor's here in Brockville. This pattern requires either a bunch of fat quarters or a "Layer Cake" (more bakery talk!!) I've had a layer cake set aside for another project but decided to use it for this particular quilt. This quilt is kind of, sort of, like building an Irish Chain. There are 20 blocks total and each one is one surprise after another since I have no idea how it's going to turn out. Don't ya just love surprises? I do, everyday of the week.

Life in the Thousand Islands

2010-07-17T06:29:00.001-04:00

I've been living here in Brockville, Ontario for over 8 years now. Summertime has to be the most beautiful time of year on the St. Lawrence River. Take a look at this link...scroll down to near the bottom of the page and view "The Best of Ian Coristine's 1000 Islands" video (which is one of my favorite photographers). The music is by "Great Lake Swimmers".
After viewing the video, you will understand why I decided to stay in one of the most beautiful areas in Canada.

TI Life “Lite” > Thousand Islands Life Magazine > Thousand Islands Life Magazine All Archives

Canada eh!

2010-07-07T07:45:00.006-04:00

July 1st, here in Canada, we celebrated our country's 143rd birthday. It was such a glorious occasion that the Queen herself, came across the big lake, and even dragged Prince Philip along for the celebration! However, back at the cottage on Bobs Lake, we celebrated Canada Day with Neil's Mom and Dad and of course, Dakoda. As you can tell, Dakoda certainly wasn't to be left behind (Lord help you if you did!!) when we went out for a boat tour of the Lake. The one thing that I did notice was everyone was showing their true patriot love for this country and had attached the Canadian flag to their dock, boat, railing etc. It made you think very quickly that we truly do live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world! Of course, Canada Day wouldn't be the same without a good old-fashion barbeque. On the grill...Canadian Beef, Canadian Pork and Canadian Lamb. The corn on the cob however came from the USA but that's alright by me and our guests!! Happy Canada Day!

It's Prom Time!

2010-06-28T08:37:00.006-04:00

It's June and you know what that means...Prom! Yes sirree! This time it was Tyler and Jess's turn! Honest to goodness, I had butterflies and it wasn't even my prom. Tyler asked me to give him the "once over" to make sure that his tie wasn't crooked or that his shirt was wrinkle free! He cleans up real good!! Neil and I were so proud of him!! But then there is Jess. She was soooo nervous! (I share her pain!!) But she looked absolutely stunning! What a gosh darn cute couple they make! Honest to goodness the pictures that were taken, one would think that we were on our way to a wedding. Gulp!! No, no, no! First things first...off to University, then get a job and then think about it!!

Tyler and Jess are heading off in the Fall to Carleton University in Ottawa. Congratulations!

It's Raining Cats & Dogs!

2010-06-12T06:32:00.002-04:00

It's early on a Saturday morning and it's also pouring rain! It's a perfect kind of day spent in the studio doing some sewing! Can't work in the garden today. Too wet!
Can't get any painting done. Too wet!! Cycling? Nope. Too wet! Well, I better make use of this day somehow. Seeewww, I'm going to start the morning right with a cup of java, read the paper (cause I like to know what has gone on in the world since yesterdays paper) and then I'm going to saunter up to the studio, fondle my fabrics (they have been neglected for quite a while now) and start a new project! Yep, that's right. I'm going to break the "have to finish one project before starting the next one" kind of rule that I seem to think that I must follow to the letter. Seeewww, what are your plans for today?

Timing is Everything!

2010-06-02T15:20:00.005-04:00

You know when you are driving along and you come across something that you would least expect to see? On my recent visit home, I was heading back into Harriston from the family farm and came across a baseball game taking place. You see, the majority of farms surrounding our family farm is owned by Mennonites. Well it was Victoria Day weekend and what other way of spending the afternoon than a "good old fashioned baseball game & picnic" at their local church/school. I think that there were more women playing then men but it was a site to be seen.

And Yet Another Exchange

2010-06-02T14:51:00.007-04:00

Where have I been for the past couple of weeks? It's been busy here...gardening, landscaping, building and a quick trip home to see my Mom, I miss her so. With all the "hustle and bustle" I was still able to put together this little quiltie for an exchange. The top pics are what I did and it was mailed off across "the big lake" to the UK (once again, it's a secret swap and I don't want to spoil the surprise). I can't resist a little "thread painting/playing" on anything!! The bottom pic is what I received in the mail all the way from Australia! (Did you see the movie "Australia" with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman? Do you recall the scene involving the "bucket of water" and Hugh himself? I know. I know. It's just a movie and has absolutely nothing to do with this swap but I just can't help it! It was a memorable scene!!) Okay back to the exchange...Thanks Mary! I absolutely love it!! It's sweet as can be.

May 4, 1965

2010-05-04T13:16:00.005-04:00

Yep, today is the day! It's my birthday! Let me do the math for you...2010 - 1965 = 45 years. Already? Whatever happened to 42, 43, 44? Time flies when you least expect it!

This is me, 40 years ago sitting on the steps at the back kitchen door on our family farm (How do I know for sure? I counted the candles!) Come to think of it, Mom took pretty much every photo there of us kids whether it was someones birthday or graduation. I recall this cake (does that surprise you!!). It was chocolate with these pretty little pink and yellow flowers. As you can tell from the picture, I was a "proud owner"! A store bought cake! Imagine! I think Mom was busy working in the fields along with Dad. Now, fast forward 40 years later. I would never have believed that I would be sitting at my computer "blogging" about this event. Computer? Blog? A lot has happened in 40 years!

A Public Notice

2010-04-29T17:29:00.005-04:00

With only a few days left in April, May is just around the corner (it starts Saturday in case you didn't notice). Let me be the first to inform/advice/recommend that when you put your new summer sandels/flipflops/sling back on, please be sure to turn around and look at your heels! If your heels look like this, time to book an appointment for a pedicure! If you have never had a pedicure before, get one! You will rejoice! The heavens will open up! You will be wondering why you didn't get one sooner! Trust me on this one! If you're like me, I notice these things! Along with the Dads' that insist on wearing white socks with their Birkenstocks!

Spring Fever??

2010-04-19T12:17:00.002-04:00

I've got to admit, I have spent zero time in my studio for at least 3 weeks or more. It's not like I have nothing to work on. I could be chained to my sewing machine for a lifetime and still not get through everything that I would like to make or create. Spring fever perhaps? The sun is shining. The grass is green. Birds are singing.

So many distractions especially the increase in traffic along King Street.

You know the weather is fine when you see packs of motorcycles traveling together. Here's an oldie but a goodie...it's my Mom & Dad when they were newly married over 50 years ago. For several years, Grandma Zurbrigg forbid my Dad to get a motorcycle. So he waited until he got married and then what could she say then. I always thought Dad was a bit of a "rebel". So, whenever I heard the sound of a motorcycle, I always think of this picture of the "hot couple on a bike".

Nellie & I

2010-04-15T14:29:00.002-04:00

Spring certainly came in like a lamb and kind of stayed that way. I'm pretty sure that we are two weeks ahead of schedule when it comes to weather.
Good thing though...because it gives my cycling partner, Nellie Holmes and I more time to get in the kilometers (or miles for my imperial friends). Last year we set a goal of 1000 km. We almost made it...850 km to be exact! Schedules and weather became an issue for both of us but we certainly did have fun together! This year we set the bar even higher...1200 km! Yep, that's right!! Why do you ask? The first weekend in June, is the annual "Rideau Lakes Cycling Tour" with the Ottawa Cycling Club. Basically you cycling from Ottawa to Kingston, stay overnight in residence at Queen's University and then cycle back the next day. There are four different routes that you can take depending on your cycling ability (or however crazy/deranged you are). I have done the 200 km ride and a couple of years ago, Neil and I did the 360 km route. It is recommended that you have a least 1000 km before you begin this tour. There is a very good reason for this
and duly noted! I'm hoping that the weather cooperates which really makes a difference in your ride. I'll keep you posted on our progress! TaTa For Now!

Quilting Gallery - Guest Blogger

2010-04-07T08:36:00.005-04:00

Let me be the first to inform you that I have been invited to be a "Guest Blogger" at
"Quilting Gallery" (www.quiltinggallery.com) Yippee!! I am so thrilled and very pleased to have been asked. The Quilting Gallery is a website that has free patterns, tutorials, tips and techniques, videos, guest bloggers (like me!), swaps, contests, quilter's forum and fabulous photos. While you peruse the website, you will meet quilters from around the world (over 4000 quilters to be exact!) in the quilting bloggers directory and the new quilter's forum. You can also browse the quilt shop locator, a unique map-based network of quilting retailers and professionals. Be prepared to spend a few hours on this website. You might have to refill your morning coffee cup. Thanks to Michele Foster for making it all happen!

Jelly Rolls! (Fabric not Pastry)

2010-04-06T09:28:00.005-04:00

I'm going to show you my favorite "roll". Jelly Rolls! (Fabric not bakery!) I think Moda was really on to something big when they came up with "Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes, and Turnovers". (Once again, I'm talking about fabric not bakery! Shucks again!!) These wonderful cuts of fabric have certainly made their way into our studios and it seems that more and more books/patterns are coming available with lots of ideas and usage. I'm in the process of building a quilt "Nostalgia" (a pattern by Moda, bless their little hearts) that uses two jelly rolls! There is a heck of a lot of piecing/cutting to this quilt but the thing that is really great is that my fabric is already prechosen, and precut! How convenient is that? Those Moda people sure are "smart cookies". Sorry, more bakery talk. I'll keep you posted of my progress. In the meantime, I'll save up some "dough" for the backing and try and prevent callous buildup on my "ladyfingers" when digging up the garden next week.

Here's a thought...do you think that perhaps somewhere in the world, someone tried prewashing their jelly roll fabric? I've always wondered...

Did You Notice?

2010-04-05T13:07:00.004-04:00

This past weekend, Spring hit Ontario fast and furious. Did you notice? Apparently record breaking temperatures were reported throughout the area. I think "everyone and the minister's brother" had barbeques on the weekend. The neighborhood turned into a "flurry of activity". However, bad news folks...according to the paper, we are going to get a wave of cool weather resulting in showers with a chance of flurries (a.k.a. snow!) I know, I know!! I'm just giving you a "fair warning" or "heads up". No need to put your flip flops back in the closet. You'll be needing them soon enough.

Happy Spring!

Easter Greetings!

2010-03-31T10:43:00.002-04:00

Easter fills us with hope, joy and warmth. It is a time to get together with friends, family and loved ones and celebrate this joyful time.

Happy Easter!

(There is nothing like an Easter Greeting showing a juggling, Speedo wearing, bull frog! Enjoy!)

Threads That Bind Us

2010-03-30T07:27:00.004-04:00

For many years, (not sure how many to be exact), Neil's mom Pat has been stitching away making embroidered tablecloths and matching napkins. I'm not sure how many she has done but her stitching is exquisite. She says it keeps her busy in the evenings, along with the crossword puzzle in the daily newspaper that her and Neil's dad, Alf work on together. I believe the process is that she starts it and Alf completes it (that is the crossword puzzle not the embroidery, in case you were wondering). A few weeks ago, Pat was going through the leftover skeins of thread. "Either they give you too much or not enough" says Pat. "Do you want some? I have lots." I took a good sized bag home and immediately thought of needlepunch embroidery. My friend Christine Baker of Fairfield Road Designs http://www.uppercanadaquiltworks.com/ has the sweetest needlepunch embroidery patterns that she has published with lots of ideas of what you can do with your work afterwards. The above pic is "All Abuzz" pattern. I'm using Pat's leftover thread and will be giving it to her for her 86th birthday the end of April. If you haven't tried needlepunch before, well it's very simple, easy and very portable to take on the road when traveling.

The Happy Baker

2010-03-22T11:43:00.006-04:00

Any one that knows me can tell you that I like to cook/bake and I'm constantly reading, clipping and trying out new recipes. I read cookbooks like novels and would put myself in the category of a "foodie". I love to eat! (Have you seen my hips and thighs. They were inherited from my mother. God Bless her!!) A few weeks back, the Ottawa Citizen ran an article about "The Happy Baker", Erin Bolger. What caught my attention was, 1) she's orginally from Blyth, Ontario (I actually know where Blyth is since its not far from where I grew up) 2) she wrote a cookbook that is a collection of recipes and matched them with her own personal dating memories (I can add a few disastrous dating stories myself!) 3) she also appeared on "Dragon's Den" to promote her cookbook and hopefully get one of the Dragons to invest in her quest to sell 300,000 copies across Canada (I am addicted to "Dragon's Den". It gives me palpitations when I see an entrepreneur making a pitch to the Dragons' whether good or bad, followed by a typical "below the investment belt" comment by Kevin O'Leary. I'm pretty sure that his bark is worse than his bite.) So, when the Dragon's told her that her numbers were a bit high, I thought, "Oh yes she will". (I love it when people tell you that you can't do something. It just gives me even more determination and courage to prove them wrong). I went out and purchased a copy to support her and now I'm blogging about her to promote her. It took me two evenings and lots of salivating to get through her cookbook. Her dating stories are fun and the photography is uniquely done for each of the recipes. Who cannot resist "Me and My Cookies are So Over You", "My Mom Didn't Like You Anyway Cupcake" and my favorite "I Forgot to Mention I was Married Blueberry Cheesecake". The recipes are easy to make and are tried, tested and true. Many where passed down Grandmas, Aunts and Great Aunts (Now you know that any recipe that a family member gave you is going to be a family favorite). As well, this cookbook would also make a perfect gift for a girlfriend who is going through a few dating dilemmas herself since it also serves as a dating guide and baking 101 all at the same time. You can read more about her at www.thehappybakerchick.com

Wouldn't It Be Great!

2010-03-02T17:25:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year again...filing tax returns! Wouldn't it be great if we could write off all of our quilting expenses on our tax return? How many quilters/artists work full-time and quilt/design/build on their days off as a stress reliever? I'm one of them and I refer to it as "therapy" (most days, much needed!). Wouldn't it be great if would could keep track of how many hours we spend in our studios and the amount of quilting supplies required on our tax return for a "write off or expense claim"? I would have no problem justifying my purchases that occurred in 2009, every single one of them! I think I'm on to something wonderful here.

Heaven on Earth

2010-02-23T09:56:00.010-05:00

This would be Neil's version of "Heaven on Earth" - skiing in waist deep, fresh powder snow, deep enough that he would need to get out the "Powder Boards (a.k.a. "The Salomon Big Guns") Can't you just feel the excitement?
This would be my version of "Heaven on Earth" - reusable strips to use on your sewing maching for consistent 1/4" seams every time. No more stacked up masking tape gumming up the face plate on my machine. Oh yeah!! Bring it on!!
Here is a pic to demonstrate my new found favorite tool by QTools - Sewing Edge. "Another frustration free quilting solution".
Very clever indeed.

(The first pic was taken two weekends ago while we were skiing at Jay Peak Ski Resort in Vermont. The other two pics were taken in my studio when we returned from skiing in Vermont.)

The Back Burner

2010-02-16T10:09:00.002-05:00

This has happened to all of us at one time or another, especially quilters. The "Back Burner". It's happened in my studio. It started in January when I started with an overhaul of my stash. I found fabric that I had completely neglected. I found kits that I purchased a couple of years buried at the back of the closet and had forgotten about. Once I started pulling fabric out and then I immediately started to "regroup" and then the ideas started flowing, and then I got carried away and started heaving out patterns stored away waiting to be put to good use. So needless to say, Neil's "Labour of Love" quilt, that was suppose to have been completed by now has gone to the "back burner, again". It's not like I'm never going to finish it. I just got "distracted" for the past few months. (Neil, you should know by now that I'm easily distracted and I'm not happy unless I have a few things on the go. Does this sound familiar? "Birds of a feather flock together") So to get all my ideas in order, I've made a list to keep it all in perspective...

1. Neil's quilt (Chocolaholic)
2. Summer Citrus (fabric already purchased)
3. Sweet Tea (using pink fabrics, heaven forbid. Finally found a background fabric)
4. Add borders to lap quilt (a kit that I purchased two years ago)
5. Nostalgia (I took this class with my friend Nellie Holmes and I have to admit I can't put it down. Another "root cause of the back burner" excuse)
6. Make a couple of table runners for the upcoming Silent Auction for the Thousand Islands Quilters Guild (the auction is in November but as you know time flies by quickly and I will be scrambling a week before. Better get it on a list before it's too late)

This list could go on forever and ever. I just jotting down what I can see in my studio at this moment. As the saying goes, "Too much fabric and not enough time" would certainly apply here.

Valentine's Day Past

2010-02-12T13:07:00.005-05:00

With Valentine's Day approaching this weekend, I can't help but reflect on when I was a little kid, heading off to school with my Valentine's in hand. Keep in mind that I had spent a good part of an evening sitting at the kitchen table writing out names and double checking the correct spelling with my Mom. (I was a bit of a perfectionist. Wanted to get it right the first time). Of course, I had to sign cards with "Sharon Z" since there was another Sharon in my class. Hey, I wanted to take credit for all my hard work and accuracy. I recall decorating paper bags at school and then taping them to the wall so that other classmates could drop in a card for you. You can bet I double checked the name to make sure it said "Sharon Z" and not "Sharon B", the other girl in my class. I think I made her do the same. Lord help her if she had one of my Valentine's! All in all, Valentine's Day is either a "hit or miss" with most people. Who cannot resist red hearts and cupids in February? Also it's a perfect reason (guilt free) to eat chocolate. What's even better is when it comes in a heart shaped box...boy oh boy! I've come to appreciate February the 14th since Neil makes it very special in his own little way. When Neil and I first started dating, he had flowers delivered to the house. I was pretty sure that the delivery person had the wrong address and that there had been a terrible mistake. He responded with "Is your name Sharon Z?" "Sure is". "Then these are yours"!!

"Happy Valentine's Day" xoxo

World's Largest Skating Rink

2010-02-10T09:51:00.005-05:00

Winter seems to be a busy time of year for us since most weekends are usually designated for skiing. At the end of every winter season, I complain bitterly about not having skated the Rideau Canal. It's like living in Toronto and never have been up the CN Tower (I shake my head in disgust). It's been a few years since I donned a pair of skates and this past weekend, Neil and I made the committment of spending a few hours on the canal. If you're going to make the effort of heading down to the canal, packing the car with skates and warm clothing, you might as well skate the entire thing! We laced up just off of Bronson Street, skated towards downtown Ottawa and then came back, looped around Dow's Lake and then up to Carleton University for a total of 20 km (or 12.42 miles for my Imperial friends). Not bad for a three year hiatus. Our reward...a Maple Butter Beavertail. (What's a Beavertail you ask?? Well, it's a Canadian version of the donut, in which the dough is made into the flat shape of a beavers tail and flavoured with lemon, maple syrup and cinnamon. You can't get anymore Canadian than this!)
Now mind you this is a "once in a blue moon treat" but having just skating the entire length of the canal, in minus 15 degree weather, it was well deserved and burned off. In conclusion, "All sins are forgiven here. Amen".

I Couldn't Be More Happier!

2010-01-29T09:49:00.003-05:00

I'm happy. I'm glad. I'm thrilled to pieces! Why? Cause winter came back! I missed it! I'm almost sure that old man winter was feeling the neglect. I was able to fire up the snowblower yesterday which has become my new "favorite winter activity". Last week, we had very mild temperatures and lots of rain. I will take the blame for this because as I was driving home from work the other morning, and was astounded with the amount salt and dirt on my car. I was contemplating whether or not to run it through the car wash and thought "if only it would rain"! And rain it did. In fact, flooding has been reported in the surrounding area. Sorry about that! Anyways, the temperature has taken a nose dive and the snow came back. (You can insert groans/moans here...). The thing is that I am Canadian. I love the changing of the seasons that we get to experience here in Ontario. Winter is a favorite time of year for us...skiing!! Yes, Neil was fretting over the amount of snow that disappeared over the past week. "Don't worry Neil. There will be more cause it's only January"! The lack of snow causes him "much stress". As well, on these cold, wintery days is the perfect setting for wearing pajamas all day, putting a fire on and sewing until your little heart is content. It is a well known, proven fact that you achieve better, and more consistent 1/4" seams with pajamas on. Please feel free to prove me wrong.

Forever Plaid

2010-01-14T11:56:00.003-05:00

Just before Christmas, Chelsey, Jess and myself had a "Girlfriend Day" together downtown Ottawa. We went out for lunch to the "Scone Witch" (yummy!), and then did a bit of Christmas shopping together. Not only was it a fun day spent together with the girls but it was also very educational for me. (You can learn a heck of a lot from an 18 & 19 year-old). One thing that I did notice was plaid is huge amongst this age group (boys & girls). I'm talking about the big shirts that quite honestly reminded me of what my father wore many years ago on the farm. I came across one blouse and thought "I wore something like this in high school". Here's the proof...this is a picture of me taken during one of my Art Class at Norwell District High School, in Palmerston, Ontario, in 1982 (yep, that's right!) I was doing something with clay and probably ended up as a paper weight that I gave to my dad on Father's Day. I really don't recall. I should have kept that blouse! It only took 28 years to be back in style!

Out With the Old And In With the New

2010-01-05T11:28:00.008-05:00

Do you make New Year Resolutions? I don't. Never have. They never last. You know, be more healthy/lose weight/exercise/reconnect with family & friends etc., etc. Blah, blah, blah! The list can be endless. I have always looked at January as a new year, a new beginning with no mistakes (so far). So while I'm putting away the Christmas decor, I purge at the same time, and some times organize as well. (My paper shredder had a good little workout this morning. Why do I need to keep an electric bill from two years ago?? It's gone!!) With this in mind, my next big task is purging/organizing my studio. My goal is to completely go through my stash and ask myself a very simple question "I am ever going to use this piece/fat quarter of fabric?" Right now my studio it completely out of control (I blame it on the Christmas gifts that I made plus lack of time putting things back into order before starting the next project). And what are my plans for the "rejected/don't need it" fabric? Well my friend Jeanette is a member of "Victoria's Quilts" which is a group of quilters that make quilts for cancer patients. Jeanette has asked me a few times for any unwanted fabric that will be put to good use and brighten someone's day. Ask, and ye shall receive. So with this request in mind, I'm geared up to start liquidating!

Please note: The above picture is definitely not my garbage. I am the "Recycling Queen of the World". Well, maybe not of the world but I do make a conscious effort. Usually my garbage consists of one small, very small bag and an overflowing recycling bin.

Swinging in the New Year

2009-12-31T08:52:00.005-05:00

It's December 31st. Last day of 2009. Where did the last 12 months go?
No one has ever been able to answer this question.

What are your plans for New Years Eve? Neil and I will not be doing any
"swing dancing", "cha cha", or "the tango". I myself prefer a quiet, rent a movie, put a fire on, in my pajamas by 6 p.m., and get take out at one of our downtown restaurants, kind of night. Neil wants to party all night, so he says. Fughetaboutit! I'm lucky if I can stay awake past 8:30 p.m. on any given night. Actually, our plans are to go out for dinner with friends (at 5:30 p.m., as early as possible) and walk around downtown Brockville and finish up my window shopping. Tomorrow, I'm putting Neil to work in the kitchen baking pies that we are taking to John & Rachel's for lunch on Saturday. Dakoda's plans? She will be patiently waiting her turn for attention and then we'll take her for a long walk along the river. I wonder if she knows that another year has passed?

Happy New Year!! Best Wishes for 2010!!

Secrets Revealed

2009-12-27T12:22:00.008-05:00

Do you recall on a previous posting about a "secret assignment"? Well, I received word that it finally arrived safe and sound. It took over a month for the parcel to arrive
in South Wales.

They had just experienced a postal strike so needless to say, the mail was a tad backed up.
Now that the quiltie has arrived, I can let the cat out of the bag! My assignment was to make a "winter themed" wallhanging for a 15-year-old daughter (Gemma) of one of the quilters (Gemma's mom, Gina) in my "Spring Fling Round Robin" group (say that a few times!!) It took a bit of thinking and then I got an idea...a really good idea! Now you will understand when I posted earlier why it was "hard to say goodbye!" I had a lot of fun putting together a "special parcel" for Gemma because it began with the theme of "some of my favorite things" starting with the snowglobe wallhanging. (In case you didn't already know, I collect snowglobes). From there I added more of my favorite things, a notebook (cause I like to write things down), chocolate (no explanation required) and other Christmas candy (cause it's Christmas) that might not be available in South Wales. I received an email from Gina to say that the parcel arrived and that "I did good"!! I am so glad to hear this since it was a "special assignment" and I didn't want to disappoint anyone. Thanks to our host Mom, Margaret. She must have a lot of faith in me.

Happy Holidays

2009-12-24T08:35:00.005-05:00

To All My Quilting Friends Near and Far,

May your hearts and homes be filled with warmth and love this holiday season.

Have a Merry Little Christmas and Best Wishes for 2010!

Affectionately,

Sharon, Neil & family (and of course Dakoda)

Piece by Piece

2009-12-23T16:36:00.004-05:00

Do you paper piece? Just like applique, either you love it or hate it! I myself, I really enjoy it! It's a great way of using up scraps (generous amounts of scraps is the ticket). You also get perfect points everytime!
As you may already know, I've been "chained" or "hog tied" to my studio finishing up Christmas gifts (yeah I know, leave it all to the very last minute). I finished up this little cutie this morning. The finished size is 13" x 15". Boy there was a lot of piecing in each of those little trees but it was worth it. Don't you think? It has been folded up and posted in the mail today but unfortunately won't get there until after the 25th. That's okay. It will be a nice little surprise post-Christmas.

Only Seven More!!

2009-12-18T08:38:00.004-05:00

It's Friday, December 18th...only seven more big sleeps until Christmas. Are you ready or not? Me? I made a promise to myself about a month or so ago that I was not going to spent the week before Christmas, or even Christmas Eve finishing up gifts. For several years now, I have spent the good part of Christmas Eve stitching down a binding or two and getting to bed late. It's my own fault cause I always seem to put things off or come up with another idea of something that I would like to stitch together for Christmas.

Last year, I made for each of Neil's kids a Christmas stocking. The pattern was simple enough...stripped piecing. But that wasn't good enough. I machine quilted them, then changed the cuff on the stocking. It should have taken me a few hours but I turned the tasked into a "dusk till dawn"! They turned out beautiful and the kids love them!! Christmas shopping? I left this job up to Neil since he is more qualified in this department and has many years of experience! I myself shopped for the little things and I'm pleased to say that I don't have to step one foot into a store until 2010!! Yes!! This thrills me!! However, I will be chained to my studio for the next few days finishing up a couple of gifts. I'll be out soon!!

Part III - Completion

2009-12-02T13:50:00.007-05:00

Do you recall this previous posting time-capsule.html? Well, the corner of the kitchen is "done", "finished", "finito". I am so pleased with the end results since it wasn't the easiest job in the world. Neil did a fabulous job with the trim work and I have to give myself a "pat on the back" for the drywalling, mudding, sanding and painting! Ya done good girl!! I wonder how long it will take before anyone finds the time capsule? Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, anytime soon, that I know of. In the meantime, I will enjoy the new and improved corner of my world.

St. Paul's Chapel

2009-11-24T10:17:00.002-05:00

Right beside Ground Zero is St. Paul's Chapel.
After the terriorist attack on September 11, 2001, which led to the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, St. Paul's Chapel served as a place of rest and refuge for recovery workers at the WTC site. Apparently the chapel during the attack of the twin towers remained intact...no windows were broken. Not a crack in the foundation. Nothing was disturbed. Inside the chapel you will find 23 different artifacts on display, a collection of cots, crosses, banners, letters, teddy bears all donated after September 11th, and hear the stories behind them. I didn't take any pictures inside because there was just something sacred about this church and the memories left behind. Today, St. Paul's continues as an active part of the Parish of Trinity Church, holding services, weekday concerts, occasional lectures, and providing a shelter for the homeless.

The Bucket List

2009-11-24T09:24:00.010-05:00

Everyone has one of these lists. You know, the list of things that you would like to see or do before you "kick the bucket". Neil and I have a "Bucket List" and actually it is almost identical to each others (except for the back country skiing in Montana where the snow is up to your waist...sorry but I'll pass on that one. Neil is the extreme skier, not me!) One thing that is on both of our lists is a trip to New York City. Well, this is what we did this past weekend. We did the trip with "Bruce Wylie's Tour" here in Brockville. Bruce and his wife Ilene have been taking people down to NYC since 1996. They know the city like the back of their hands. It's like having your own personal tour guide for the entire trip!! We left early Friday morning from Brockville, traveled by coach bus to the city and returned late Sunday night. It was a fun filled, fast paced, no time for resting, leave the high heel shoes at home, kind of weekend. Really, there was no time wasted as Bruce runs a "tight ship". I can't even begin to tell you how many miles Neil and I walked but I certainly gave the Saucony running shoes a good workout!! I took a lot of pictures and have chosen a few of my favorites to share with you.

I do know for sure that I can stroke off my "Bucket List" the following: Go to NYC, see Time Square, Macy's Department Store (didn't spend enough time there, must go back on the list), see Ground Zero, ride the Staten Island Ferry and see the Statue of Liberty, see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center (they were still decorating it and revealing it on December 2nd, must go back on the list), see a Broadway performance (we saw Memphis), see the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Center, see the Brooklyn bridge and take the tunnel under the Hudson River. Man, did we ever accomplish a lot in three days!!
If you happen to live in the Brockville area, I highly recommend this trip with Bruce!! It exceeded our expectations and we're already talking about returning next year but next time take Tyler & Chelsey with us (we've extended the Bucket List). Many thanks to Bruce & Ilene for showing us a great time in NYC!!

"Never Can Say Goodbye"

2009-11-18T14:29:00.006-05:00

For the past couple of years, I have participated in two quilting exchange groups online (Spring Fling Round Robin & Another Little Quilt Swap).
I thoroughly enjoy the challenges and taking my quilting ability to the next level or just to be inspired one way or another. I just finished my final project/challenge for 2009. It was a Christmas themed swap with Spring Fling Round Robin/Four Seasons. Once again, I can only give you a sneak peak since "it's a secret, and because it's getting close to Christmas, you're not allowed to ask questions". I was given a "special assignment" and that's pretty much all that I can tell you at this time. However, one problem...the miniature quilt turned out so gosh, darn, cute that I had a hard time saying goodbye to it!! It was posted on the weekend and I'm just going to sit and wait for the final outcome. When it reaches its final destination, then I'll post a pic of the finished product and then you will come to realize why it was hard to say goodbye.

Take Four

2009-11-10T08:44:00.006-05:00

I've been getting a little bit excited these days. Halloween is over and now the rush is on for Christmas. What's so great about this? I'll tell ya...it's all the Christmas decorations, baking ingredients, new food products just for the Holiday Season. Do you get it now? My favorite thing to do is to go around to the different stores and check out what's new. I don't necessarily buy anything. I just like gawking at it. This past weekend, Neil and I made a quick trip to Ogdensburg, New York which is just a "hop and a skip" from Brockville. It's fun heading to the United States and snooping around the different stores cause everything is just a bit different than what we have here in Canada. Take a look at the "Oreo cookies". They're different. These ones are "Winter" with a red center. (They had the same ones for Halloween but the centers were orange. Neat eh!). I bought these for Chelsey & Tyler's lunches (oh, and Neil too!) but they came with specific instructions. They had to "take four". Two for themselves and two for someone else. The recipient has to be someone who just might need a "spring in their step", or is "having a bad day", or just to "surprise someone". Who can't resist an Oreo cookie, especially one with a red center. Also, it's fun to share and the kids get a kick out of doing so. (I wonder where they get it from??)

Conversing with Dakoda

2009-11-03T12:28:00.006-05:00

If you were to ever have a conversation with Dakoda, it would go something like this...

"Wanna go outside? Let's go outside. Can we go outside? We should go outside. Have you been outside?"

Dakoda is our beloved, French-Canadian Golden Retriever whom we adopted two years ago after hearing of her blight of needing a new home. She is not your average Golden Retriever, personality wise. She is a.k.a. "The Princess/Drama Queen (as the kids refer to her as)/Head of the House"
Lord help you if you don't include her in every activity especially a car ride. She's always glad to see you when you get home but then will "chew you out" for leaving her behind...alone, again! Despite all her idiosyncrasies, she is a very affectionate, loving dog and has certainly won the hearts of her family especially her grandparents. I keep reminding Neil that we wouldn't trade her for a million dollars. This statement is usually followed by a long pause by Neil and then an even further pause when I look at him for a response. It then will be followed by "I'm still thinking". A house isn't the same without a dog.

A Labour of Love

2009-10-30T13:17:00.006-04:00

October was an extremely busy month for all of us...traveling to visit both families for Thanksgiving and aging just a bit. We celebrated two birthdays this month, Chelsey who is now 19-years-old and Neil whom I won't mention his age no matter what you may bribe me with.

Okay, you got it out of me, here's a hint...take my age and add on five years = Neil's age. (He absolutely hates it when I mention this little equation!! But as my mother would say "it's just a number which really doesn't mean a whole lot!! Always listen to your mother!! Sometimes she may know more than you!!) What did Neil get for his birthday? He got a box of 24 fat quarters...batiks to be exact, his favorite! If you ask him, he'll tell you it's the "beginning of a stash waiting to happen"! The plans? I'm building a "Chocolate Bliss" quilt which is an original design by my friend Nellie Holmes http://www.uppercanadaquiltworks.com/ How many quilters have given a gift that will be "completed later"? Please raise your hand. Okay, you are forgiven! I am one of those quilters that enjoys and savors the process of building and creating. Did you know that your 1/4" seams are more accurate if you sew in your pajamas?? It's a well known fact and proven by many of my quilting friends. Come to my house on one of my days off and I will give you a demonstration. In the meantime, I will continue to build Neil's quilt. Stay tuned!

How to Make a Woman Happy...Very Happy!

2009-10-21T11:25:00.010-04:00

Every man on the face of the earth should know the answer to this statement or at least have some sort of understanding when it comes to making any woman happy. It doesn't take much to make me happy (Neil will agree to this...I think). Any little thing pleases me. I live on the theory of "keeping it simple" and I don't like "complicated things or matters". Yesterday, here on King Street, I was one "happy woman"!! Do you see it!! No more "man eating holes". No more mounds of dirt and gravel. No more pipes, fittings and heavy machinery. It's grass baby!! I was deliriously happy and then came along this watering truck who hosed down all the sod and cleaned the sidewalk! Now that's how you make this woman happy!! I was so overcome with joy that I hosed down the front of the house and cleaned windows to remove the 1/4" dust that had been accumulating for months and months. King Street is coming back to life!

Hocuspocusville

2009-10-19T10:00:00.002-04:00

Ever notice that pretty much every quilter has a "distinguishing feature" when it comes to their work. You know, there's the appliquers, the embellishers, the traditionalists etc. What I'm getting at is that everyone has their own "claim to fame" when it comes to quilting. For example, my friend Tammy Spencer. She is a master at several trades...long arm machine quilter (she does all of my quilting. I usually hand over a quilt top with instructions to "surprise me!!"), works extremely well under pressure (I know for a fact that she has pulled a few all nighters to get her quilts done for a show or two!!) But the one thing that always inspired me was her embroidery! She has done some amazing quilts with embroidered blocks. With this in mind, Tammy introduced me to Crapapple Hill Studio after seeing her "Winter Wonderland" quilt which took 1st Place at the recent Thousand Islands Quilters Guild "Quilt Fest" this past June. It was stunning!! It was beautiful!! It made me want to start doing some embroidery of my own!! First stop...Crapapple Hill Studio website. Since I'm a lover of Halloween, I immediately spotted "Hocuspocusville", a whimsical witch's village. It's 12 blackwork embroidered blocks of shops surrounding the town "nine patch" squares. How many blocks do I have done...almost 2! This is what I was working on in the car when Neil and I drove home for Thanksgiving last weekend. Will it be done in time for Halloween? Absolutely!! October 31st, 2011 to be exact! Man is there ever a lot of stitching! But it's something that I can pick up after working the night shift, or sit and watch a movie with no thought required. (Bridget Jones's Diary is a great movie to watch when stitching or binding a quilt). Isn't it amazing how your quilting friends have such an impact on one another!!

Cassidy Thanksgiving

2009-10-13T17:49:00.004-04:00

This past weekend certainly went by quickly...too quickly to be exact. The majority of our time was spent traveling from one side of Ontario to visit my family and then heading back to the other side to visit Neil's family. To make the traveling time go faster, I downloaded a book and a couple of podcasts to listen to along the way. While Neil was busy driving and listening, I spent the time working on some stitching. One can accomplish a lot of stitches in 12 hours! Monday afternoon we arrived in Osgoode for the "Cassidy Family Thanksgiving". Pictured here is Neil's brothers, John & Bruce and his Mom & Dad, Pat & Alf. I give Pat a lot of credit in raising four boys!! It's been several years since everyone has been home at the same time, in the same city, in the same room to celebrate a holiday or event. The kids had a great time visiting with their aunts, uncles and cousins. The food was plentiful and delicious in both destinations (I made the mistake of jumping on the scales this morning. How many pieces of pumpkin pie did I actual inhale?? Oh my!!)

Look What I Spotted...

2009-10-09T15:24:00.005-04:00

It's Friday afternoon and I have been up for 1 1/2 hrs (came off the night shift this morning). What have I done so far? Read the Ottawa Citizen (I'm addicted to this paper. It gives me a bit of everything that I need to know and since it's Friday...movie reviews!!), consumed a bowl of cereal and topped it off with a coffee. Now I'm waiting for the java to kick in!! Next on the agenda is to check my emails and snoop around the internet.
I also like to check into a few of my favorite blogs. I love to read what other quilters are working on or seeing a pic of their latest find. Then I spotted this pic on www.the-humming-cat.blogspot.com The jelly rolls caught my eye but then I noticed what was underneath the rolls!! It's the miniature quilt that I made for an exchange that took forever (three months to be exact) to travel from Canada to Australia last fall. I was almost certain that it was confiscated since the parcel contained Maple syrup. So there it is!! Put to good use!! This absolutely thrills me to pieces!! Now it's got me thinking...I have enough left over fabric to make a second one! Perhaps a giveaway on my blog?? I'll have to ponder over this one.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-10-08T23:34:00.002-04:00

This coming weekend is our Thanksgiving here in Canada. Our weekend plans are to head home to visit with my side of the family and staying in Elora with friends. We will commence our weekend early Saturday morning to beat the traffic driving through Toronto. Neil has already been "briefed" on the weekend agenda which consists of stopping at a couple of quilt shops along the way!
(Keep in mind, this usually costs me lunch in St. Jacobs at Vidalia's) Sunday we're travelling to the family farm and spending time with my family. Monday morning we are back on the road again early not only to get ahead of the traffic, but also on to another Thanksgiving dinner with Neil's family in Osgoode. Neil's oldest brother Bruce and his family are visiting from Alberta and the entire gang will be together, the first in many, many years. So needless to say, we have a busy weekend ahead of us plus lots of turkey, gravy, mashed pototes and I mustn't forget to mention pumpkin pie with whip cream! It's only once a year that I indulge but someone has to do it. Happy Thanksgiving from Our Home to Yours!

Pumpkin Time of Year

2009-09-27T12:42:00.005-04:00

Have you noticed or did anyone realize that next Thursday is October 1st? (Insert groans, sighs, "please don't remind me" comments here).

I noticed and I absolutely love this time of year! Why? Take a look...

Who cannot resist pumpkins, gourds, squash, apples and anything that resembles Autumn at a road side stand? Soup anyone?

Can't you just picture a basket on the counter with these beauties? It makes my heart sing just thinking about it.

But then I came across these pumpkins!! What are on those pumpkins? Warts or polyps? Are they grown on "Misfit Island"? Does their mother's know? Looks like some growth they picked up from the gourds. One never knows what takes place in a field? But they would make a great conversation starter when your guests arrive cause you invited them over for a bowl of Roasted Butternut Squash soup.

Best $4.99 Ever Spent!

2009-09-25T08:03:00.003-04:00

One thing that I know for sure is that if you are a quilter, then you are a great cook. It just seems to go hand in hand. All of my quilting friends are great
cooks since I have been to their houses for lunch one time or another. But do they own one of these? It's an oven thermometer (not for meat but for your oven). A little known fact about myself...I love to cook!! I read recipes like they were novels. I'm always clipping, saving, organizing and trying out recipes. Neil has no complaints and is more than willing to participate in the taste testing. However, I made the discovery that my oven was too hot!! How hot? It was too hot to handle! I purchased an oven thermometer and put it to the test and lo and behold, my oven is 75 degrees too hot! So, I tested out my new found gadget and made a "Spicy Banana Loaf" for Neil and it turned out perfect!! Just passing on "words of wisdom" from my kitchen to yours.

Summer 2009

2009-09-21T18:49:00.004-04:00

Summer finally arrived here in Ontario but only two months too late. So needless to say, the last couple of weeks has been enjoyed at the cottage with family and friends.

(Now you know where I have been these last few weeks...not at my computer blogging). These are the views from the cottage overlooking Bobs Lake. They were taken at the same time, just in different lighting since the sun was setting and I had to move quickly. The fall season is my absolutely favorite time of year to be at the cottage. We have several oak trees which means lots of raking of leaves. There is nothing like spending the weekend working outside or taking walks with Dakoda and spending the evening by the fire with a bowl of steaming soup and crusty bread (and of course a glass of wine).

Local Observations

2009-08-23T09:01:00.007-04:00

I was driving home the other day and happened to notice something in my peripheral vision. I did a quick "double take", made a big "u-turn" and headed back to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Have you noticed the trees? Please don't hate me for mentioning it since we have had a disappointing summer. Where did I spot these trees changing colors so soon? That's right...Brockville Cemetery. It just so happened that I had my camera with me and decided to take a stroll around the grounds. Have you ever done this? No, it's not creepy, spooky or even eerie. As you know, everyone is "dying to get in there". It's very interesting, if you love history.
My mother grew up in the country outside of a town called Palmerston. Mom had a cousin by the name of Ken Henderson who happened to be the mayor of this town and was also the funeral director. As kids growing up, Mom and Dad dragged us to everything, especially funerals.
A memory that I have is, one summer afternoon we attended the funeral service of one of Mom's relatives at the Palmerston Cemetery. We ended up spending the rest of the afternoon walking along with Ken and basically had a "tour" of the grave sites of where my Mom's family is buried. Now keep in mind, Ken was quite the story teller or did he "weave webs". I'm not really sure but when you are just a kid, it doesn't matter and he was really good at the story telling. One thing about Ken is that he always stood with his hands clasped behind his back and he was never in a hurray about anything. Oh wait, yes there was one thing that he always made sure was right on time...funerals. Why? He had one thing on his mind at every funeral...the luncheon afterwards at the Palmerston United Church. Could these ladies put on a spread of food! And of course, the dessert trays!! The best assortment of squares you have ever seen especially date squares! Ken always remarked that a funeral wasn't the same without date squares. Perhaps attending all these post-funeral luncheons is where my sweet tooth got underway.

Another Quilt in the Works!

2009-08-19T10:41:00.002-04:00

A perfect way to get away from the construction noise is to barricade one self to the studio for some serious sewing time! But also I have a deadline to make since this quilt is an upcoming class that I'm teaching at Taylor's here in Brockville. It's called "How Does your Garden Grow". To make a lap sized quilt, it uses a "jelly roll", but cut into strips and then sewn in a "braided" formation.
I'm almost done adding the sashing and then the outside borders need to go on next. Then the best part, off to be quilted by my friend Tammy Spencer. Perhaps I will get this sample done and delivered to the store a week before their Open House and not delivered the day before or the morning of. I'll post the final outcome or if you are local, drop into Taylor's. If you have a moment, check out their website www.taylorsewing.com and have a look at their fall classes and dates of their Open House. You just might see my completed quilt there.

At My Front Door Cont'd...

2009-08-15T09:32:00.008-04:00

As a kid growing up on a farm there were always things to do to keep us busy for long periods of time. This would consist of chores in the barn, working in the fields, or helping out in the garden. Not very often were we left alone. Usually Mom or Dad were close by to supervise. However, once in a while Mom and Dad would venture into town to do a quick errand and would leave us alone with one of my older siblings left in charge. Now keep in mind, it's not that we were destructive children. No, we had other things on our minds. It usually consisted of my two brothers coming up with an idea to build/repair/take apart something or my older sisters would bake something in the kitchen that was perhaps a bit more complicated than the previous recipe that they tried. There were times that Mom and Dad would almost "cringe" with the thoughts of what they might find when they got home. Well, this certainly came to mind when I came home from work the other day. I was on the day shift and left the house at 5:30 a.m. and returned at 8:00 p.m. This is what I came home to!! The day before, the hole that was dug in front of my house was about "man size". Now it has grown to a size that would "ingest a dump truck" You can also tell from the other pic that my neighbours up the street received one as well. The good thing that absolutely no one would be able to drive down the street. Therefore no "summer traffic" which has been nice! It's Saturday morning and we have gotten a break from the construction noise which I give "thanks" to!

At My Front Door

2009-08-11T19:27:00.009-04:00

My plans were to avoid blogging any further about what was taking place on the street where I live. However, due to popular demands, questioning and curiosity by my regular readers, the sega will continue. This is what happened outside my front door today. Yep, the workers removed the front cement slab to locate the water line that runs into the house. Here is another "man eating hole" that they dug to gain access to the lines. Don't you just dig it??!!
This is the view from my front door. Notice how my plants are on the edge of destruction? I begged the construction workers to take pity on my innocent plants and avoid the brutality. They did!

But I have another story to tell. See the picture of the two cute little girls? While I was negotiating with the foreman over my flower bed and wanting to know precisely how far back they planned on digging, these two little girls came down the street amongst the construction. I noticed right away the workers getting their wallets out or rummaging through their pockets. These little girls started their own lemonade/ice tea delivery business. The workers placed their orders... 50 cents for a cold beverage or for $1 you got a beverage and a home baked chocolate chip cookie. (Of course, I had to get the scoop!!) They returned to their house or "head office" which was just around the corner, filled the order and returned to deliver their orders. They informed me that yesterday they made $23.00. Not bad for their first day in business and the weather was perfect for sales... hot and humid! Now that's impressive!! You go girls!!

Rainy Weekend Activity

2009-08-10T07:56:00.008-04:00

Yesterday was a perfect day to be creative...in the rain. Not far from our cottage is Dawn King http://www.dawnkingrustic.ca/ who makes rustic cedar furniture and offers classes. It just so happened that this past weekend she was teaching an "arbour" class. I've made twig furniture before which sits in the front porch at the house. I've always loved the look arbours in gardens but appreciated the ones that were a bit different. I showed up Sunday morning at Dawn's place with my list of tools and went to work. It was a snap putting together since the frame work had already been precut by Dawn herself. The majority of the time was spent creating the sides and top by bending, drilling, nailing the cedar branches into a rustic theme. You can see the end results. I'm really pleased however, Neil has to go back next weekend to pick up my arbour with the trailer. It kind of reminds me of "science projects" that end up bigger than expected and you had to get your Mom to drive you and your project to school since it wouldn't fit on the bus. I remember those days all to well!!

Complain No More!!

2009-07-31T10:31:00.008-04:00

Construction is well underway on King Street here in Brockville. As of yesterday, this is what it now looks like in front of the house. Look at the size of that "man eating" hole! There once was a maple tree there! In a previous posting, I did a bit of complaining of what was happening along the street. However, after taking a little stroll down the street to check out the ongoing mess, I came to noticed that I'm not alone with this construction...

My neighbour, two houses down the street, has this huge pile of dirt in front if their house.

Further down, is another neighbour that was fortunate enough to get this "johnny on the spot" plunked down at the end of their lane way. (I didn't look to see if there was hand sanitizer or magazines in there for the workers)

This neighbour across the street now has a big hole in their front lawn!! They also took out part of their drive way yesterday.

So needless to say, I will no longer be grumbling about the railroad container housed at the front of the house, the excess noise of the digging and pounding (the noise would remind you of an "unbalanced load of laundry in the washing machine") and the dust and dirt. The next posting of the progress on King Street will be the finishing phase...stay tuned. It won't be happening any time soon! Only three months to go until completion. Yippee!! (In case you were wondering, there has been no further sightings of "Mr. Deltoid". I'll be on the alert!)

Neil's Completed (Almost) Corner of the World!

2009-07-30T10:43:00.006-04:00

After three months of weekend work, many hours of planning, several trips to Rona and Home Depot, the cottage kitchen is about 95% completed. Just the final section of the cupboard top and the back piece of the cupboard where the stools sit need to be installed. Neil certainly out did himself with this renovation!! I am so proud of him and pleased with the final outcome! We now have a bigger kitchen with lots of floor and cupboard space! The ceiling is tongue n' groove pine and the flooring is hardwood stained a dark chestnut color. We spent most of Neil's holidays last week cleaning, unpacking and putting the cottage back into order so that we can finally put our feet up and enjoy the summer months.

New Environment on King Street

2009-07-19T15:20:00.010-04:00

The construction on King Street has begun. The city is replacing the sewer and water lines under the street. It started with cutting down of the old maple trees along the boulevard (I had to walk away and cover my ears and eyes during this process). Then the machinery rolled in. Parked out in front of the house is an old railroad cargo container. It houses their tools and other miscellaneous items. Why they chose to dump it off, right in front of the house and obstruct the view of the street for the next two months is beyond me!! I am thoroughly convinced that they are testing me!! Neil says that I should remain positive and look on the bright side. (He can be such a "Pollyanna") So, I took his advice and spotted this guy...Mr. Deltoid, with a 1" thick tan. Okay, I can make this work!! Positive thinking!! Neil, you're absolutely right!! The noise begins at 7 a.m. right through until 7 p.m. The good thing is that there is absolutely no traffic!! You can hear crickets at night! In the evening, I walk down the centre of the street to check out the progress. It kind of gives one an eery feeling! Expected date of completion...October 30th! Oh Lord!! Welcome to my world!!

Spring Fling Round Robin #3

2009-07-11T15:34:00.004-04:00

If you will recall a previous posting of the centre block that I submitted to the "Spring Fling Round Robin #3"...this is the final outcome!! I absolutely love it!! A big "thank you" goes to Round #1; Amy Lobsiger, Round #2; Carol Bloomhardt, and Round #3; Wendy Frieden who did the machine quilting and binding. I've been walking around the house trying to find the perfect place to hang my quiltie. The first comment out of Neil was "Oh wow!!". He thinks it is really cool that you just send off a centre block and it comes back looking like this! A big "thank you" also goes to Margaret, our hostess. I think you are doing a great job organizing the Round Robin and keeping on top of things (believe me, she doesn't miss a thing!!)

A Day at the Cottage

2009-07-06T10:19:00.002-04:00

I was able to go to the cottage yesterday since it quit raining (only four days worth). The last thing that Neil said was "Be prepared to work". What??!! The kitchen is in its final stages of completion involving moving stuff back into the cupboards. We have almost three times the cupboard space that we had before. However, when I arrived, the sun was shining and the skies were blue. All of our cottage neighbors were out on their docks/boats. So the idea of cleaning and unpacking the kitchen stuff suddenly was no longer a priority! I guess that it didn't help with me saying to Neil "It's just too darn nice outside to be working inside. Lets grab a couple of chairs and sit on the dock and enjoy the weather". (Works everytime! Neil is such a push over!!). Chelsey and Jackson made a surprise visit to the cottage in the afternoon. They had been camping nearby and had had problems with their Coleman stove. So they arrived good and hungry! I love it when the kids are with us at the cottage. Or I should say, I love it when we have company at the cottage since everyone knows that there is always some sort of activity going on and lots of food to accompany. We then went out in the boat (after feeding them) to the kids favorite "swimming hole". Of course, Dakoda wasn't far behind since she knew there was a ride involved. Lord help us if we ever left her behind! I'll post pics of the newly renovated kitchen...stay tuned!

It's Begun!!

2009-06-30T11:21:00.002-04:00

I was notifed by the City of Brockville a few months ago that starting in July right through until October that the city is tearing up a section of King Street...from Cedar right through to Beecher Streets. According to my trusty map of the city, this includes 4 city blocks...smack dap right in front of my house!! They are replacing the water and sewer lines. So this means, lots of digging with a very loud jackhammer, lots of trucks, (noise, noise, noise!!) and the worst of all...dust/dirt/grime!! I am not looking forward to the next 4 months! The day that they dig up the street in front of the house will the exact day that I trying to sleep cause I'm on the night shift! Oh Lord!! I'm trying to keep positive about the whole thing...it's only 78 days of construction, (that's if they don't get into a pickle of some sort!) Perhaps I should just move to the cottage and take up residence there. I could bake a batch of "coconut raspberry tarts" and bribe them to just avoid the section of the street in front of the house...hhmmm!

It Was Good Enough for Dorothy...

2009-06-29T12:19:00.003-04:00

The renovations at the front of the house are finally completed. However, the front door needed "something", a "zinger" perhaps to make a statement especially when living on a main street in Brockville, Ontario. Why not red? Ruby red? Dorothy had ruby red slippers in the "Wizard of Oz". They were magical!! But I also thought that it might be too much!! I would be known as the "deranged lady who lives at 385 King Street with the appalling red front door"!! So I compromised and chose a different shade of red. The color is not red, but, pardon me is, "Brandy Wine". I wonder what would happen if I slammed the door three times, and repeated "There's no place like home"

My Claim to Fame...

2009-06-25T13:42:00.006-04:00

Okay, you got it out of me, twisted my arm hard enough to reveal my most sacred/prized recipe of all..."Coconut Raspberry Tarts". This recipe has made me very popular and I'm ready to give it up!
(Actually, my mom gave me this recipe many years ago which was passed on to her from one of our old neighbors).

Take a dozen premade tart shells (Okay, I confess that I cheat!!) and put 1/2 tsp of raspberry jam (actually, I've done strawberry and mixed berry jam which also works well) into tart shells. For the topping, use 1 cup fine coconut, 1 cup of white sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp butter (plus) 2 tbsp water. Divide mixture evenly into tart shells. Bake slowly at 350 degrees till brown (about 10-12 minutes).

There you have it. It's painfully ridiculous and so easy to whip up!! Everyone thinks that I spent hours slaving over a hot stove. Make up a batch of these tarts and you can pretty much bribe anyone!! (Okay, I've done that too!! All I have to do is wave a few of these babies in front of Paul Taylor of www.taylorsewing.com and I can pretty much get him to hand over the keys to the shop!)

A Magic Trick!

2009-06-23T14:47:00.008-04:00

My good friend Jean Boyd recently put a blurb on her blog
http://www.blogger.com/www.jeanboyduppercanadaquiltworks.blogspot.com about "Texture Magic" from Superior Threads http://www.superiorthreads.com/ I'm a real sucker when it comes to cool quilting products. I was really intrigued by this one. I'll walk you through the steps. I started out by rummaging through my stash and found a fat 1/4 of a really neat fabric that had texture in the design. I then layered the fabric with batting (batting gives the texture extra loft) and then the Texture Magic on the bottom to create a "sandwich". I then stipple quilted the entire piece using one of my recently purchased threads from Superior Threads. Did I mention that I'm addicted to thread? It's true! Thread is in the "gotta have it" & "can't live without it" category. Fabric, wine and chocolate can also be grouped in this category. Where would I be without my addictions! I then flipped the entire piece over, filled my iron up with water and let the steam do the work! The fabric started to pull up during the shrinking process. It kind of reminds me of "smocking" when it was done scrunching. Pretty neat eh!! Too cool for school!