Do you see what I see????

AHA - the mystery is solved.  Remember that picture from yesterday about the thread on the serger?

Why is all that thread like that????

Turns out it was Sparky who did that.  She is a PACER and a WANDERER.  If I had to compare her to a human, she has advanced Alzheimer's!   Apparently, she had gone downstairs (even though she is NOT supposed to) while I was on vacation. She must have stepped over or close to the serger (she just barges over and through everything rather than go around) and somehow the thread got attached to her.  So as she wandered the basement and then upstairs and wandered around the table, that thread was unwinding!!!!   That is hysterical!  Can you just see that happening??  DH saw her and had to follow the thread to unwind it from the furniture. That is equally funny!  Nothing like a good laugh to start the day.

How about a scary moment? I am out for my walk again this morning. This time, armed with the camera. We got past the "scary zone". This is the only area where I have seen the coyotes.  Even though I know they run through the entire forest. We didn't see the coyotes, but we saw a cat and a field mouse in that same area.  I was thinking if the cat feels safe, then the coast is clear.  As we were exiting the off beat trail onto the main path, I turned back and the two coyotes were there behind us!  I don't think we are in any danger as the two dogs are sticking to me like glue. They used to wander, but they have no intenton of that at this point. Even Sparky who is a wanderer is sticking real close.

I snapped a couple of pictures and then we continued on.  As I exited another off beat trail, the darn coyotes were on the MAIN PATH.    By the time I got the camera in my hand - this one had started trotting away from us!   Next week, I take a different lens with me!

Coyote on the main path in the forest

 He went into the wooded section that runs behind our house and stood there watching me!

Just watching!

 The lighter coloured one is a bit harder to catch on film

Running across the path

He is there - watching................

My neighbour, Rhonda sent me this picture that someone took (I don't think it was Rhonda) at the end of our street.  There are houses mere meters from this fire hydrant.

Domesticated? coyote

You get a better idea of the size of them from this picture. Thanks Rhonda

I am not afraid, but I walk with all my senses on high alert. The last thing I want is for one of them to spring out at us.  I know - a sane person would probably avoid the forest as per the signs that are posted advising citizens to avoid the forest at that time of day. Well  - that forest is my sanctuary and I'll be damned if I am going to let a couple of coyotes spoil it for me. Perhaps I need a GUN!


Have you noticed what is happening in ALL of our neighbourhoods in Canada???    Something is growing - like mushrooms!

Give up????  


 Election signs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    

I know - politics is boring - well for most of us.  But for us quilters - no this is a very exciting event. Why????

Well - these particular signs are boring to us - they are made of plastic and put on a wire frame.  Just going to end up in the land fill.

Plastic election signs

 However - THESE signs are perfect for us. And notice how they conviently have TWO signs back to back?????

Signs made from corregated plastic

 If you have no idea what to use this for - they are perfect to cut (easy to do with a utility knife) and use for inserts in the bottom of a quilted tote bag. In particular, they are very useful for the Chubby Charmer bag.

Speaking of Chubby Charmer - one can NEVER have too many of them.

Yep - there are SEVEN of them - all are special and can't be given away!

I have a feeling that a few more are going to be in the works based on what I found at the office. (Office - that sounds so bizarre to write OFFICE is the context of THE office that I work at!)

Now I don't think I will be collecting any election signs this time around as I still have quite a few in the garage from the last election.

Election sign stash

However - there are election sign etiquette and rules that one must follow.

The Federal election will be held on Monday, October 19. The polls will likely close at 8 PM.


If you care to check the internet, most cities have by-laws regarding these election signs. But my guess is that they would be pretty standard????   This information came from Toronto.



Removal of election signs All signs are required to be removed 72 hours after the election and if they are not removed from City property, an ML&S Officer may remove the signs at a potential cost to the election candidate. 

It is the responsibility of the owner of the private property to remove the election signs on their property or advise the candidate of their required removal.

After the election - you can remove ANY signs that are on your property (remember - you want the RED party) or call the candidate to remove them (only if they are BLUE). And anything on public property is up for grabs 72 hours after those polls close. Just sayin................

And YES - I promise to run a Chubby Charmer class this fall.

My time to teach classes is going to be limited to four days a month (for the most part).  I will be posting a complete list of my classes hopefully this week as most of them are pretty much set now.


On that note - I have loads to get done today and I had best get started.

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet ride..............

I am mixed up!  Having a "holiday" on Friday has messed up my schedule. I think it is Sunday today. Ooh well - I am sure I will figure it out by the end of the day and then tomorrow will be a BONUS day!

It is time to cash in the winnings. Roll up the Rim is over once again and this is what I collected. I know - I wait until I can't get the contest cups any more (although last Monday, I was still able to purchase a contest cup from one location) - which I won't tell you about!

Ten free coffees (well tea for me) and four donuts (cookies for me)

I think that is on par with what I have won in previous years. OH MY GOD - I just checked my blog post with Roll up the Rim winnings from TWO previous years.  What a shocker!!!!   Check it out and then come back.


Did you see?????   It appears that I win the SAME number of things each time. Fourteen!!!!   That is hysterical!!!  I know - only I would care about that kind of thing.  I'm like a little kid - everything fascinates me.

I haven't been to Supperworks in ages. I had been going for years and then once I returned from my first bike trip - I stopped. I have no idea why - I just remember that when I came back from that trip (I was away for three or four weeks), that I got out of the routine (once a month) and never rebooked. I have been thinking about going for months and still couldn't make the effort to go. I have been so busy and really don't care for cooking so we haven't been eating as well as we should be.

Some of the ladies in the sewing group had talked about going and then someone found WagJag coupons to Supperworks (the same location that I used to go to). So I called and then "accidentally" booked an appointment and next thing you know - there I am back at Supperworks. Joe still owns the place, Gail still works there. I had a great time catching up on the news. Gail is now a cyclist and so we are going to go riding one day.  It was just super funny and destined to happen. I have more dates to book and some of them will be with the sewing ladies. Can't wait - it really is fun, it is easy - everything is chopped and ready to go. Couldn't get much easier than that. In one hour (even with the chatting), I was able to prepare SIX meals.

One meal (I split mine so technically I get 12 meals)

 You pop the meals in the freezer and then thaw the day you are going to make it.  I really liked all of the meals and they are easy to cook at home. And if you don't have the time to assemble the meals yourself - they will do that for you (for a price). Check it out!!!!   The menu switches around monthly.   Orders are 3, 6 or 12 meals (and if you split them - then you get 6, 12, or 24)

My Supperworks order

Do you remember that thing that I posted a picture of the other day?????

Did you figure out what it is?????

How about now???   It is a bike basket liner!!!   And I could not have picked a more perfect colour combination. My bike is white with turquoise blue trim and of course that brilliant orange on the inside. 

Well - if anyone could NOT see me with that orange lining - they would have to be blind or they were aiming for me!!!!  Had a few errands to do and well - the temperature was warm so I got out the bike. Wish I had time for a longer ride, but too much work at this moment in time. Although you will be happy to note that I had a customer drop off four quilts yesterday.  One needs to be done now (which we had already talked about and scheduled), the other three were unexpected and I told her September.  Oh yes - I am going to get the hang of this scheduling if it kills me!!!!

So here I am at the library. And I had to pick up something from a friend's house. Oh my goodness - I LOVE her new apartment/condo.  It is gorgeous and faces the right direction for sunlight and brightness. It is close by - I just love it!!!!  

Anyway - no need to worry about parking - I just ride right up to the drop box and drop my books at the library. Parked and locked my bike by my friend's front door. Yep - I love my sweet ride!!!!!!!!!!!!

My sweet ride!

Every time I go to a quilt show, I check out the books. There are always older books that people no longer want. This is the collection that I got from the Etobicoke Quilt show. A book on tie quilts, a book on mystery quilts, a couple of "gallery" books, one on buttons and one on the quilt retail market. NOPE - not opening a store, but thought it would have some interesting ideas.  I think I paid about $13 for all 6 books. Not a bad deal.

Recent additions to the library

 And a couple of weeks ago, I was at Value Village and found these books.........................

Books from Value Village  (4 books for less than $10)

However I need help.  I was certain that I already had the book in the lower right and when I got home and checked, I was right. I will redonate that book. But here is my issue - I need a list. And I have found the perfect person to help. Once I am back from my retreat, hopefully we can hook up so we can figure out a way to sort through this mess. I am very excited about that and can't wait to get it all organized.


Something else very exciting happened yesterday. Remember - it doesn't take much to get me excited. But I have been trying to download an audio book to my iPod. Stupid software says it doesn't see my iPod attached, yet I could see the iPod in iTunes. Go figure!  Well - I am happy to report that yesterday - everything worked beautifully and I now have a new audio book to listen to. I like to listen when I am loading the long arm and with a long drive coming up next week - I wanted a book to listen to.  Now I am in audio book heaven. I have a couple more on hold so hopefully they will come in before next week.

iPod - all loaded with a new audio book

However one thing happened yesterday that I am NOT happy about. This is the danger of leaving things too long. I have been shuffling projects from one spot to another as I make room for this class or that class. Well as I try to prep things for the retreat, I thought I could finish this Chubby Charmer bag.  Well - it would appear that the handles and all the small accessories, like the tag and velcro are MISSING!!!!!   Oh crap!!!!!    They are here somewhere, but probably got tucked into a bag or underneath something. At the time, I likely saw that they were being buried and said "oh don't worry - this is a good place - you will find it again!!!!"   I better kill that voice for future!!!!

Chubby Charmer bits - but no handles!!!

Found a few pictures of what the others did this past Monday. Have a look......................

Sorry - this first picture is from a class at the Hobby Horse. One of the students (and I can't remember who made the bag - was it Mary???)

Chubby Charmer made from jeans with pockets!!!   I LOVE IT!!!!!

Apparently she cut and trimmed and cut and trimmed and OOOPS - it is a "bit" smaller than the original!!!!

Now these are from Monday.

Joyce made a beautiful little flower pin at a recent guild meeting

The back - these are very cute and easy to make

Krstyna got two more blocks done for her Critters quilt by Brandy Wine

Second block for Critters quilt

Tish finished her woven totebag by Auntie's Two. It is gorgeous. The colours are awesome, but the front looks like a creature from the Muppets with those two buttons!!!!   Nicely done (as usual) Tish!!!!

On that note - I have a lot to do today, but making good progress on my list of things that HAD to be done before I leave next week. Still lots to do, but the pressure if off slightly????


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!