Catchup - May 8th-21st

May 8th

I'm a Happy Camper that's for sure - hotel style!!!  My flights and train are all paid for.  My excursions were paid by Leanne and Rob so we're on the same ones etc, I'll square up when we meet up in Calgary.  AND my hotels are booked/confirmed with payment when there.  Glad I've my savings!  Now my excitement is starting!  

My AEROPLAN points are going to climb fast for my next trip east!!!  Excited for that too!!!

May 11th

This is Edna's Mother's Day dessert at her son and daughter-in-law's BBQ supper Friday, that I was invited to. Yummy!!!

Then Saturday Edna and Norma and I went the MCC spring quilt and craft sale where I saw my pink quilt donation tied and on sale. Then to Stella's for lunch! Lovely! Sylvia was out with her daughter's.

Ohhhh WOW I've finally completed my April Hexies PFAS postcard, some 11 days late. 😐 I hope she likes it and feels worth the wait!  

See I have this mini puzzle of "The Great Wave, the best-known work by Japanese artist Katsushika Hakusai. It was created around 1831 as part of a series of woodblock prints, and between 5,000-8,000 prints of the original piece were made."

That was my inspiration for the hand stitched hexies image of that scene. Then I machine stitched the wave lines and end of the wave water drops which I then added tiny seed beads and finally machine stitch the wave tops. I think I did not bad!!!

Machine stitched wave lines and water circles.

Tiny beads added as water droplets.

May 12th

Well I escaped my apartment as it was warming up noonish and I didn't want to haul out my AC unit as yet.  So I came for lunch at Folios and afterwards settled upstairs in the Common or Study area of the CMU on Grant Ave in the comfy chairs and tatted in tolerable AC.  I've been here before and loved the environment, conducive to my handwork.  There was a very young couple sitting like 6 feet away and neither projected their voices.  After she took the pictures I complimented them on their quiet conversation that I barely heard the odd word or so!

As for my tatted Pineapple Doily,  well I'm just about halfway through Row 9 and have 10 and 11 to do before the last one is posted Saturday, doubt I'll catch up that fast!   Now taking a break with feet up, on my bag, and sipping my water.

Thank you Sylvia for accompanying me to Club Regent for supper, fun and shopping on 3X Appreciation night. So I started out with $100 from my Holiday savings plus they gave me $10 for my BD month to play with. Well I cashed out with $251.20, an excited heart rate and some smiles. The best part was the last $10, I was down to 30 cents so bet it to win a spin, I did and played a few more spins. Then down to 25 cents, so repeated again and this time played and forced that dang blue/green fish to finally burst and at the end of the free spins cashed out at $38.50 on those cents!!!

Basically all the same size at the start.

These two carried on steady for a very long time!

Finally the yellow burst out for a nice cash out!

Blue/green still being stubborn.

But finally it burst at my end of play!

One of her lucky plays.

Close to the end for her too!

May 14th

Interesting!!!!

May 16th

🥰 Thank you Pat for organizing a Friday family pizza party, which turned into an early birthday celebration! It was awesome and I totally enjoyed it! Thank you everyone, for your company and gifts!

Astro was the only one to enjoy dessert!

It's hanging up!

May 17th

So after ACQ sewing day, I sorted (except for the Batiks) out my scrappies into project bags and prepped some HSTs. Then watched the last game for the Jets, sadly for all of us!!!  

Tomorrow I think I'll just do some simple sewing, will see.

May 19th

I'm fighting off a slight cold and working on my tiny 1.5 inch gifted squares for future charity quilts. This is like the least mind boggling sewing my scattered brain can do today.

Then just now Sylvia sent a picture of her finished Canada quilt with her only panel and some left over fabrics she bought from me. Beautiful!

May 21st

Okay here's another post I've lost before it was uploaded! This new phone is taking some getting used to!

This day started not so great. I hate pain, what a sissy!!! While at physio, my hip was poked to loosen the very tight muscles this nearly brought me to tears. Even with heat afterwards I was still in pain when I left, but I know it'll be better later on! I think that cortisone shot will be happening before my vacation.  

After a few errands I met up with Nancy from Oakville at the Sanctuary Cafe for yummy coffees, before she returns home. Then we walked towards Hy's/Baileys to show me the Sal's restaurant in a nifty older building, open 7am-2pm only (I didn't know of this one). I'm not sure how far we actually walked as my new phone did not record it like the older phone did, but needed to sit a few times! SHEESH!!!!!!!!!

Catchup - Feb 11th-17th

Feb 11th

Today I helped Sylvia board her tour bus, same group we went to Churchill with, on a western Canada trip to Osoyoos BC with various stops enroute and return.  She's meeting her friend Linda from Swan River in Brandon tonight and hopefully forging a lovely travel partnership!!!  Enjoy your trip, safe travels and warmer weather soon!  💞🤞💞

Feb 13th

WOW!!! And here I bought the Gismo (in my comment), prettier and that would probably work too!

I think I'm climbing out of this dang cold I've been fighting the past two weeks (surprised I've dropped 10 lbs, probably won't keep it off)! Today was the first time my stomach growled, so after lab work, I stopped at McDs for breakfast and finished a small coffee, delicious!!!  

Then once home I started prepping my fabric for Saturday's ACQ apron class. Then pulled out my selvedges and proceeded to resort them by colour instead of by lengths as I'd sorted awhile ago then realized that was useless for projects! But shoot energy levels ain't that great!

Feb 14th

Today was a full day finally and energy okay!!! Errands this morning, finished the fussy cutting for my apron class for tomorrow, a load of laundry, drafted up a different Berry Pickers pattern for Edna and made a quick supper. Relaxing now then I'll prep my snacks for tomorrow's ACQ gathering!

I've heard from Sylvia, she's enjoying her trip so far and reconnecting with some that were on our Churchill trip and today overnighter in Medicine Hat.

Feb 15th

Well it was iffy on whether I'd go to ACQ today (but I had a class plus Sylvia and I were in charge of snacks - which were just about ALL gone and there was lots) but I persevered and after a Tylenol Arthritis I started to feel better noonish. Thankfully no mistakes during my apron class and I finished it!!! 

Now at Edna's relaxing and thank you for the pictures!!! I brought borscht and ice cream she made apple crisp for our supper!  Then I'll go home to relax and watch the 4Nations hockey and Scotties recorded!!!

Hey this seems a nifty system!

Someone in my group please try this and post if it works!!! 😉

Attracting Butterflies with a Simple DIY Fruit Feeder: Benefits for Your Garden

Step 1: Prepare the Feeder

Choose a shallow dish that is easy for butterflies to access. A colorful dish can also help attract them.

Step 2: Prepare the Fruit

Cut the fruit into slices or mash it slightly to expose more surface area, making it easier for butterflies to feed on the juicy parts. Overripe fruit is particularly attractive because it is easier for butterflies to digest.

Step 3: Enhance with a Sugar Solution (Optional)

Create a simple sugar solution by mixing water with a small amount of sugar. This mimics nectar and can be especially appealing to butterflies.

Soak a sponge or cotton balls in the sugar solution and place it in the dish to keep the feeder attractive and moist.

Step 4: Set Up the Feeder

Place the feeder in a sunny, sheltered location near other butterfly-attracting elements like flowering plants or a water source. If preferred, hang the feeder by attaching a string or wire to the dish and suspending it from a tree branch or a hook. Ensure it is stable so it doesn’t swing or spill.

Step 5: Maintain the Feeder

Change the fruit regularly to prevent it from rotting and attracting unwanted pests. Clean the dish frequently to ensure it is safe and appealing to butterflies.

I know I'm finally feeling better!!!!!

Edna's apple crisp with salted carmel ice cream.  I'm sure the 10 lbs lost will be found at this rate!!!

Great nature activity with little ones!!! But be careful of poison ivy or oak!

Feb 16th

Sounds nifty!!!  I screen saved the video.

Feb 17th

So Sylvia has arrived in Osoyoos yesterday. They had snow two days in a row. Very good driver Great music and meals. She even danced twice a slow waltz (travellng with an old type dance/music group with their own band). Today is a free day to do whatever they want.

WOW!!! What you think Janice? You're the only one I know that hikes heights! 😉

This needs planting everywhere to be rid of mosquitoes then!!!!

Well I've completed the hand quilting on this miniaturized tumbler pieces quilt top. It's 8.5 x 11.25 inches and each block was cut from 1.5" squares donated by Janet Nickle of ACQ.

  

Now to find my 1.25" strips so I can finish the hand stitched binding! I think this may be it for hand piecing for awhile, too tedious for me! 🤗

New Year - Dec 26th-31st

Dec 26th

I found the perfect spot for my sign! Beware when entering my quilting place!!! 😘

Well I think I've prepped enough bindings for my Quilt Canada donations and time to get back to my quilting. I've four fabrics basically 1.5 metres each for a total of 3,607 inches, but the two stripes are split by shorter and longer pieces cut on the bias, the two brown/green started off cut on the straight of grain but then switched to cut on the bias and the brown just straight of grain. Hopefully they will be matched where needed!

Dec 27th

Well Sylvia did another easy puzzle in a few hours and said to bring one of mine over.  So today I picked her up and we went for quesadillas at Southdale Family Village Restaurant and I took over 3 of my new quilting ones and decided to start on the sewing machine tin one! Gosh they are small pieces but at least odd ball shapes and seems to be good quality pieces to work with. So we started and actually a couple hours in we made a good dent in it!!!

My baby won't stay clean long in this shit!!!

Dec 28th

Up and attem, took Edna shopping, picked up treats and flowers for us before heading over for borscht lunch and pizza/wine supper sleep over! Some sewing too!

Well that's a wrap for my hand pieced tumblers made from donated 1.5" squares into rows (didn't even make a dent in the bagful). Once pressed I'll stitch the rows together and assemble and hand quilt it too! This is 7" x 9.5" so might need another row or two once rows are joined to make a rectangular quilt.

WOW!!! After replacing ONE parka zipper I totally refuse to do anymore. So this is on my feed so I know where to go next time!!!

Dec 29th

I saw this for the first time last year while having supper with Nancy at Cibo's, I was distracted many times but especially on a couple of slips, thankfully harnessed!!!

My picture taken last year.

Dec 31st

To my family and friends wishing you a

Kinda a nice end to 2024 with a visit with Edna and then over to Sylvia's for puzzle setting and Santa Lucia pizza supper while listening to the Jr Hockey game. Too bad Canada lost to USA!!! We finished my Singer sewing one and switched to Sylvia's folksy huge one but forgot to take a picture! We'll be doing that one for awhile!!! Now home and to watch the Jets hockey game. AND caught the fireworks but my pics weren't their best!

But 2025 will be a bit iffy as I have to report to MPI as the person I firmly bumped (no crashing and no major damage to either vehicles) in November put in an accident claim. First letter was sent Dec 2nd which as yet I've not received and a firm reprimanding letter sent Dec 19th was received today! I'll call in Thursday to make an appointment.