Productive Monday

I didn’t get much sewing done over the weekend, between a 75th birthday party for DH’s ex father in law ( we had the best time and even got to see the American contingent of the family!) and our annual Christmas party at the Slocan Valley Threads Guild monthly meeting. I did get to eat lots of onions and garlic in all of the amazing dishes and the sweets and salads were incredible! I came home from both events with a full tummy and more happy memories! The Guild meeting inspired me to create even more because of all the beautiful items shared by our members. They are such a diverse group of artists; felters, weavers, basket makers, quilters, spinners, bead workers and so much more!

For DAN, who turned 75, I made a set of mug rugs. Everyone had taken up a collection and bought him a new bike so I just wanted him to have a little something in the house to remind him of the party and all of the friends and family who arrived to celebrate with him.

Monday had me working on a block pattern I am testing for Quilt Art Designs. Her paper piecing patterns are the best to work with! They are concisely written, easy to follow and some of the most fun patterns to work with. I must admit that I have had to redo the block. I had it half done when I got my new machine, so the 1/4″ is slightly different on my new Janome. I think I have it figured out now. The block is finished except for hand sewing the binding. Our power has gone out (someone must have hit a power pole) so it will have to wait until the power comes back on. I had used a green fabric in the block which did absolutely nothing for the finished block, so I played with thread painting to change the green to something that would pop. I’m happy with it. Photos of this will have to wait until the pattern is published. Then I will show a couple of her designs.

I also finished another stack of Part 1 and 2 blocks from the Good Fortune Mystery and started on Block 3. Again the power is out so pictures are not yet available.

Some more work was done on my stacks of Christmas presents. I only have to finish sashing and binding on the quilts and the binding on the placemats. I think I’m detecting a pattern here! Perhaps I need to make some time to sit in my chair with Christmas movies and tea and just get them done!

Ruby’s birthday sweater is finished except for the buttons. Charlotte’s is on the needles as we speak. That pattern is one I can work on by candlelight! Talk about a relaxing evening! Podcasts and audible books, a cup of tea which I had made just before the power went out, and knitting on the go.

We are having our first real snowfall. It started last night and is starting to accumulate. It’s about time since DH was still playing golf on December 7th (unheard of for the Kootenay Region in British Columbia). When we go outside now it is so peaceful and calm. DH was laughing at me because I was humming “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas” when we went out to make sure the snow hasn’t piled up too much on the satellite dish. The deer were just outside the door by the car and the geese are still here. I even heard a coyote yipping a few minutes ago. Hopefully this snow will see the bears finally going to hibernate. It’s been rough year for them. A momma grizzly (pretty rare around here) was shot after rampaging through one of the small communities here killing all of the chickens. The really sad thing is momma had twin babies who were trapped but the conservation officer. Rumour is they were taken to a wildlife refuge, but some naysayers are saying they were put down. In this part of the country black bear and cougar or lynx are more common. When I lived up north grizzlies and moose were often seen wandering through town.

Tomorrow we are off to town. DH has to see his one of his doctors and then to the hospital for blood work and a scan. His glaucoma is progressing unfortunately. I have an appointment as well to do a meet and greet with a new physician. He has been DH’s doctor for 30 years. My doctor moved to Saskatchewan to it was time to get a new to me one. It’s almost time for a physical and I do have to go for cataract surgery on both eyes. The cataracts formed quickly. 2 years ago I had a minuscule one in one eye. Now I have them in both eyes and it is critical to get them done right away the optometrist says. He explained that I will see the true colours of fabrics and be able to do embroidery again. I just think it will be great to be able to see the fabric I am feeding through the machine when piecing better! We are guessing it will likely be January or February before I can get in. Until then I will just arrange out lives so I don’t have to do any night driving. I discovered the other night that my night vision is way off! I didn’t see some deer until they jumped in front of me and oncoming headlights are really blinding me now. As DH says, getting old is not for the faint of heart. I think we are lucky that this is what life is holding for us now. All things that can be dealt with and nothing too major. DH’s glaucoma is in the early stage so with treatment the doctor thinks he will be okay for many more years.

So I am off to play with wool since I can’t fondle fabric. Hope you are all having a peaceful winter evening. Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings!

Carol