Focus is the word of the day!

I get that folks on Vancouver Island don't get as much snow as we do, but yesterday I saw a picture of someone MOWING their lush-looking green lawn, and that grass was LONG! 

For everyone who is missing snow, here are a few pictures. If only it were easy to ship to you!

This doesn't look too bad, but it gives you an idea of how deep the snow is in my residential area. That is at least 16 inches piled up on either side of the sidewalk. The sidewalk plow had gone past a second time the other night, and walking is now very doable on all the sidewalks in my area. Imagine the nightmare if they hadn't decided to bring in the sidewalk plows. It's much safer for everyone because pedestrians don't have to walk on the road. 

The sidewalks in my area

I had to go to the grocery store, so I cut through the forest on my way home. Oh my!!! A narrow path, but a path nonetheless. And of course, I was walking in my running shoes, with ankle-high socks. I didn't get one bit of snow in my shoes!!! But I had to lift the grocery bag high, or it would have been dragged through the snow. That was tiring! The forest is so pretty at this time, but when that snow starts to melt and refreeze, it will become a skating rink. But for now, it's fine!

The path through the snow

While the roads have all been plowed, they are still very snow-covered, and lots of snow is falling from the banks onto the road. So in some spots, the curb lane was very messy. I was off for my adventure in the morning, and it took me almost 50 minutes to drive 10 KM. Of course, I was late for my adventure, which is frustrating, but I had no one to blame but myself. I should have looked at Google Maps for timing BEFORE I got in the car. And as I sat at light after light, or slowed by snow clearing, or got stuck in school zones or behind city buses, the arrival time kept getting pushed back. 

But at last I arrived at the Paramount Fine Foods Arena to watch the Scotties Tournament! Thanks to a friend who invited me along. Her daughter plays on the Northern Ontario team, so we sat and watched the game and had a good chat. 

This was our view. 

Watching the Scotties Curling Tournament in person

Her particular game was televised as well, so we got to see the close-ups of the house on the big screen. We were cheering for Northern Ontario, while the man and his mother behind us were cheering for Nova Scotia, which eventually won. But he was very knowledgeable and kept saying, "OK - they are going to do this, or going to go for that!" It was pretty entertaining and informative, although my host was also telling me what was happening. 

At least, I remembered something about curling from my youth!

As I left the arena, this was the view from the other end. 

The other end of the arena

As I left the arena, I asked the navigation system (Google Maps) to give me directions to Fabricland on Dundas Street, as I needed to find that invisible zipper. It doesn't show you the end destination, but I started driving. Then I realized -- WAIT a minute, it's taking me to the CLOSEST Fabricland to my current location, which is NEAR Dundas Street, but not on it. It's on John Street. That was so weird because I asked specifically for the location on Dundas. It didn't matter, but I'm fortunate to have two stores to choose from, and I hadn't been to this location in a long, long time. 

The staff was extremely friendly and helpful, and actually approached me THREE times if I needed anything. Not once, not twice, but THREE times. That was IMPRESSIVE. 

So while they did have 22" invisible zippers, they didn't have burgundy. I got peach instead and bought two different colors. 

The old and the new invisible zippers

When I got home and compared it to my project, I'm not sure I'll use either of them. I might go to the other Fabricland today and see if they have burgundy. I know - I know. The zipper is invisible, so it won't show, but the little tab will. And I have to go out today because I've accomplished another task on my list. I had designed an applique pattern that is too large to fit on my printer, and so I'm going to my favorite print shop to pick it up. 

Whenever I have oversized projects, I use a software called Canva. I'm new to it, but hey - a graphic program is a graphic program. I know what I should be able to do, and with a couple of well-asked questions to Google, I solved my problems. I sent the file via e-mail yesterday, and I will call the print shop today to make sure everything is OK. 

I actually sent it yesterday, then had a discussion with the owner (a very helpful person). She gave me the preferred extensions, and I was good! So that was one more thing on my list for Studio B this week, and technically, I can't cross it off until I get the pattern in my hands! 

Although I only needed that one zipper, it was hard NOT to come home with only one thing. I didn't have a bag with me, but the very friendly person who checked me out put my stuff in a clear plastic bag for no charge. 

My newly acquired supplies

I laughed when I looked at the receipt. My membership saved me over $30 (total cost was $50), so in just one inexpensive purchase, I recouped the cost of my annual membership ($25). It's even more critical to boycott that online store, and I want to support my Fabricland, or, in the case of my friends who live west of the city, they can visit Len's Mill. Fabricland is closer to me, so that's where I shop. Please think twice before you buy something online! I won't go into details, but your dollars spent there are funding some pretty nasty things! 

By the way, I found a 24" by 36", name-brand cutting mat at Fabricland for $100. I immediately sent a note to my friend who needs a new mat. She picked it up on her way home from watching the curling - she went at 2 PM, I was at the 9 AM event. 

I'm teaching a private machine embroidery software class, and I had some homework to get done. I actually should have had it done last week, but that didn't happen. It's done now, and I forwarded it to the person for review. As I got into bed, I thought of one more thing to add to the document I prepared, so I'll do that this morning. I'll be sharing that document with my machine embroidery club in February. They are going to LOVE IT!!!!

And I'm prepped for the class this morning. I love giving private lessons because I can focus on what they want to learn, and they do the homework and come back with questions. It works for me!!! And then I know that what I'm prepping will actually be used! 

I completed one more task on that to-do list for Studio B and advanced two others, so it was a good day despite the fact that I was away all morning. I've been adding a few things to my online to-do list, and I need to check it this morning. I have two major paperwork things that need to be done today, so I'll see how everything goes. But I'm actually enjoying sitting at the computer and working. Having a pattern work out the way you want, or a professionally completed document? That is as satisfying as a finished quilt!

To end off today, here are pictures of the backyard and the amount of snow we have. Even the dogs are very selective about where they go. They haven't ventured too far off the deck because the snow is very deep. But Murphy blazed a trail to the gazebo to check for rabbits. 

Trail blazing in the backyard

She then plunked herself down to cool off!

MOM - I made it to the gazebo! 

No decluttering got done - that's off the radar probably for the next two weeks, as I have two major sewing projects that are both due by the middle of February, and neither of them has been started. The patterns are created, and I have the fabric for one, but I need to go shopping for the second one. 

Oh well, there are only two clubs between now and those due dates, and all my work is prepped for those! I'm in good shape, but I have no more time to shovel snow, and I will need to set aside some of my other projects! I'm going fabric shopping on Friday! Both of those projects are on the visual To-Do list, and I will remove one more project from it later today! Notice how focused I am!

And on that happy note, I'm out of here! I'm off to spin class. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!